If daily commutes in an electric or hybrid car weren't shameful enough, lobbyists are joining forces to present Congress with a proposal to help them attract even more undue attention. Advocates claim these are silent killers, endangering distracted pedestrians by emitting virtually no noise when running on electric power. Their proposed solution: adding artificial noise.
And of course, the sounds these greenmongers are pushing for hybrids to emit couldn't be just anything-they want "cute birds" chirping in harmony. Whatever dignity and manhood remained in conquering the alternative fuel frontier is quickly thrown out the window if you're forced to rock sparrow song while the hot blond rocking Finch (the band) in the IS350 next to you can't stop laughing.
If the proposal is passed, vehicle owners wouldn't be able to customize the sound of their cars the same way they could download cell phone ring tones-they'd be stuck with the birds. Or at least, whatever car manufacturers and some government agency-to-be approve as acceptable sounds for a given make and model. That means no cruising to the "get out of my way" tune of Metallica while driving down Hollywood Blvd.
This proposal was designed specifically to aid the visually impaired from being hit by cars they can't hear, but really-who stops in fear of robins or blue jays? It's hard to believe that automakers have been working for over 40 years to make cars quieter, never admitting that loud cars are, in fact, safe cars. If Congress pushes this proposal into effect, they should consider allowing Hybrid/electric car owners the ability to choose their own sounds to warn pedestrians they are approaching, or better yet, requiring cars to actually sound like cars. After all, who would cross paths with a Honda Insight screaming (quietly) like an HSV-010 GT? Of course, I would select an all-time classic as the perfect warning system. Ice Cube's "Check Yo Self" would easily bring some street cred back to owning a hybrid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvLxPQ-7VuA
Senior Editor
Scott Tsuneishi
scott@importtuner.com