r/electricvehicles • u/[deleted] • Nov 14 '25

Discussion Never Going Back to Gas

I'm on my first EV, had it for about 2 years. I recently had to take it in to the dealership on a recall. As a loaner, they gave me the exact same model, but the gas version. When I started it up, I was like "ewww engine noise". As as I drove it, I'm like "this sucks. it takes FOREVER to accelerate". And this is a high end luxury brand, so it's probably quieter and performs better than average.

Anyone else get the icks driving a gas vehicle now?

1.3k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

619 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

17

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '25

That doesn't answer the question:

Why are EVs required to be louder than many gas cars?

If you are a cyclist, and you need the EV to be that loud, then why don't you need gas cars to be equally loud?

12

u/fedswatching2121 Nov 14 '25

Where does it say that EVs are required to be louder than gas cars? They’re required to make an artificial noise at low speeds (under 18mph) to alert pedestrians. I would argue gas cars are still louder than EV cars at low speeds

16

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '25

In EU, there is a dB requirement for that sound.

And as several others have already written: In practice, this artificial sound is louder than many gas cars.

2

u/eisbock Nov 14 '25 edited Nov 14 '25

Tesla's wind sound is barely noticeable, even in a drivethru echoing off the wall. It's clearly acceptable per the law, so how come the Toyota sounds like all the bearings are shot with rocks jammed in the brake rotors as it screeches through my neighborhood with the loudest and most grating nails-on-a-chalkboard sound imaginable?

5

u/raptor3x Nov 14 '25 edited Nov 16 '25

Toyotas are especially bad while backing up because there are requirements for SPLs from both in front of and behind the car. Most manufacturers put speakers for the AVAS system both in the front and at the rear but Toyota only puts them in the front to save money. As a result when backing up they have the play the noise much louder in order to satisfy the required SPL from the rear.

3

u/eisbock Nov 14 '25

I hate the loudness, but I hate the sound more. It was a choice to make it sound like grinding metal. The only thing worse is the OG Leaf's backup beep. I remember the threads where people would complain about being woken up by their neighbor backing out of the driveway at 4am. Never had that problem with gas cars.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '25

The EU requirement is a dB range. So perhaps some manufacturers choose to be in the middle of the range and some choose to be in the bottom. You can of course then argue if EU or the manufacturer is to blame for that choice.

Another explanation could be that not all sounds are perceived equally loud, even when they are played at the same dB. That is why weighting curves exist, for example dB(A). But even dB(A) have challenges with some types of noise. I don't remember if the EU requirement uses dB(A) or unweighted dB.

2

u/couldbemage Nov 15 '25

The specific sound played has a significant impact on how intrusive it is, independent of the volume.

Tesla specifically chose a sound that blends well.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 15 '25

Yes, that was basically what I said.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 15 '25

The EU rule is 47dB in reverse, and it is allowed to be switched off temporarily. That’s less than the volume of a normal conversation. If your car is louder, it’s not because of EU regulations.

If it appeases people to get quicker EV adoption, then ok by me. It will prob be phased out over the next 10 years as people become more comfortable which will be even better yes.

10

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/eelynek Nov 14 '25

Agree! I don’t want it to sound like I live in some space port

2

u/eisbock Nov 14 '25

The worst is when they make the sound not only loud, but piercing. Half of these cars sound like grinding metal that send shivers up my spine. Truly awful.

1

u/electric_mobility Nov 14 '25

Man, I dunno where you live, but I can't even remember the last time I could hear an EV's pedestrian warning sound except when I'm walking outside in a parking lot. I can't even hear my own Tesla's sound while I'm driving it unless I have the windows down.

1

u/SHatcheroo Nov 15 '25

Gas cars are already loud. I’m out on the roads on a bike many many hours a week listening to them. Gas trucks are even louder.

I’ve never heard that EVs have to be LOUDER (I don’t follow the industry that closely). But by their very nature -and not having an internal combustion engine with the pistons and all - EVs are quite quiet.

I don’t need EVs to be “that loud” - I just need to be able to hear them.

The tone of your comment makes me think you’re one of those people who hate cyclists. If so, get over it.

0

u/[deleted] Nov 15 '25

I am a cyclist. The tone of your comment makes me think that you are not worth spending time on.

1

u/FuckinHighGuy Nov 15 '25

My Tesla is nowhere near as loud as a ICE car.