New electric vehicles will have to make a noise under a new EU rule which is coming into force on Monday. This rule has come into place after worries over low-emission cars and vans being too quiet as a result they put pedestrians at risk.
All new types of four-wheel electric vehicles must now be fitted with a noise-emitting device. This device will sound like traditional engine so pedestrians can hear them. As well as the traditional engine noise, a car’s acoustic vehicle alert system (Avas) must sound when reversing or travelling below 12mph.
New regulations will require all new electric vehicles to feature a warning noise to alert pedestrians and cyclists.
🎧listen to the warning noise below⬇️ pic.twitter.com/EO6JPK0QUg
— BBC Radio 5 Live (@bbc5live) June 30, 2019
Charity, Guide Dogs, has welcomed the change but said vehicles should make a sound whatever speed they are going. Roads minister Michael Ellis said the government wanted everyone to feel the benefits of green transport, and understood the worries of the visually impaired.
New petrol and diesel cars and vans are to be banned by 2040. Friends of the Earth released a new study showing if the UK wants to meet its net zero target by 2050 all cars need to be electric by 2030.
Lisa Hopkinson, of Transport for Better Quality of Life, which carried out the research, said: “While all other sectors have reduced emissions since 1990, transport is the only sector to have increased, while aviation emissions have more than doubled.
“Transport is not on track to a net-zero target, and we need to urgently include aviation in revised carbon budgets and constrain demand for flying and driving.
“As well as helping meet carbon targets, this would have enormous benefits for UK local tourism, air quality and public health.”
