A common concern among pedestrians is the silent danger of hybrids. A hybrid’s all-electric operation at slower speeds renders these vehicles almost entirely silent. This has been a concern among Nissan engineers as well when developing the new Leaf EV, which has a completely silent operation due to the absence of a noisy combustion engine.
Currently, some regulators advocate adding audible alerts or other types of sounds for hybrids and electric vehicles. But Nissan is already ahead of the curve, as the new Leaf will feature an audible whistle that alerts pedestrians of its presence. This week, Nissan has also invited 500 people, including customers that have signed up to buy the vehicle, to test drive the Leaf in Japan where they’ll be able to experience the Leaf’s “approaching vehicle sound” first hand.
According to Nissan, the sound transmits over a range of frequencies to ensure it can be heard by as many people as possible. The pitch will also vary depending on whether the Leaf is accelerating or decelerating.
Wanna hear what exactly the new Leaf will sound like? Check out the video below.
* * *
Read more Nissan news right here. Subscribe for the latest.
