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Comment by simonsquiff | Hacker News Reader

100%, and not just due to no emissions / minimal break dust. The noise reduction is a massive dividend. I used to live in london 10+ years ago, and when I come back I’m stunned by the noise difference, it really is so much quieter especially in central london. EVs everywhere especially replacing the horribly noisy diesel black cabs and buses. Very noticeably different and much more pleasant, and improving all the time as EV adoption continues to accelerate, hooray

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Absolutely.

It's annoying though that EV's need that extra Darth Vader on wheels sound to warn pedestrians, I'd prefer them to be as quiet as possible.

A lot of jurisdictions have laws that say electric cars must emit thatbnoise while driving. Which is basically because you might not be able to hear them over the louder sound of gas cars. I hope that that requirement can go away if we get to near 100% electric.

You can switch it off, or make it play one of several different ridiculous sounds.

On which vehicles can the humming in reverse gear be switched off? I understand the Tesla (my car) and the BYD (expires car) can not turn that off.

I find "expires" as a swypo for "exwife" somehow fitting.

Noise reduction benefit is marginal. Most of the noise comes from tires rather than the engine. At 30 km/h tires are louder than the engine, so an EV driving at 50 km/h, which is the typical city speed limit, isn't any quieter than an ICE car.

Noise benefit isn’t marginal. Central London average speed is 7 to 10 mph (11 to 16 km/h) so engine noise is significant. There is lots of idling traffic: traffic lights, taxis at cab ranks, buses at bus stops, everyone in a jam - removal of idle noise is particularly significant.

That, and even better when coupled with good public transportation.

Too bad the tire particulates likely get worse, both because EVs are heavy, and because they have more low-end torque and encourage driving that leads to more tire wear. I don't have sources but it's my educated guess from recent experience with a few EVs

But I'll take it if diesels and two-strokes will die in a fire

There’s a massive confound around vehicle size, too: EV buyers are less likely to get massive trucks and SUVs because that extra bulk drives cost up and range down, and when you’re comparing tire particulates the numbers will be more favorable for a EV sedan compared to an ICE SUV.

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