Audi: How will future electric cars sound?

Audi has revealed the work that the brand’s sound technicians have been developing in terms of the sound produced by its electric cars. Because they are almost silent until they reach the speed of 25 km/h the electric cars may become dangerous for others so at Audi acousticians are trying to discover what sound would suit best the brand’s vehicles.

“We speak of quiet cars when an electric car is driven at a speed between 0 – 25 km/h (15.53 mph),” explains Dr. Ralf Kunkel, Head of Acoustics at AUDI AG. According to Kunkel after this speed is overtaken the car starts emitting sounds from the rolling of the tires and from the slipstream. From this point on the electric car is no longer significantly more quiet than a conventional vehicle.

The silent characteristic of electric cars is also one factor of its success. In fact, environment-friendly automobiles should not only reduce emissions, but also noise pollution. Still, the noise emitted by cars also works in the streets as a signal harbors risks. Thanks to the noise drivers in traffic are able to monitor all 360 degrees of their surroundings, whereas the eyes only cover a limited angle.

Organizations for the blind worldwide have been very active advocating that automakers should give quiet cars a unique sound. Specifications or laws to this effect are already in place in the U.S.A. and Japan.

Because of that sound technicians at Audi have been working on the mission of protecting pedestrians in the electric mobility era. “One way do this is by generating artificial noise in electric cars,” says Kunkel.

“The obvious approach would be to work on the basis of the familiar sound of a combustion engine,” says Christian Schüller, Head of Brand Development/Corporate Identity. “On the other hand, we want to underscore that an electric or hybrid Audi is an innovative product. We also want to make our Vorsprung durch Technik audible in the era of electric mobility.”

Included in the possible sounds are the rustling of leaves, the twittering of birds or shrill tones such as those used on snow cats. However: “The sounds used for space ships in films are reminiscent of car sounds, yet are also very different, making this a rather interesting approach,” says Kunkel.

Although an Audi will not sound like an airplane with jet engines or a space ship from a science fiction film Kunkel says that “the Audi RSQ from the Hollywood film I, Robot gives an indication of how an Audi might sound in the future.”