The Silence of the Electric Car

For decades, the auto industry has labored to make cars quieter. Now safety advocates worry that electric cars travelling at low speeds are too quiet and pose a threat to pedestrians, who might not hear them coming.

The Washington Post reports that engineers developing Nissan’s new electric car "The Leaf" have been presenting their ideas for artificial noises to government officials and focus groups. Right now it's a toss up between a chime, a melody, and a futuristic whirring sound à la Blade Runner. The debate is also over how loud the sound should be, and whether all electric cars should be required to sound the same.

Let’s just hope they don’t play "It’s A Small World After All" on repeat.