Near-silent electric car emits warning to guide dogs

A NEW electric car proved so quiet that its makers have fitted it with a speaker that emits a warning sound to alert guide dogs and their owners to its presence.

Electric and hybrid cars are 40 per cent more likely to be involved in a collision that injures a pedestrian than cars with a conventional engine, according to figures from the charity Guide Dogs.

After the Range Rover P400e PHEV’s designers raised concerns that partially-sighted pedestrians might not be able to hear it, they developed a sound played by an external speaker concealed behind the front bumper that warns of the vehicle’s approach.

They chose a sound resembling a low rumble after extensive “drive past” experiments and asked Guide Dogs to ensure it was within the hearing range of dogs and their owners. The charity approved the device, which will be rolled out to other “silent” electric vehicles in the Land Rover range.

The noise – designed to be nonintrusive and audible at up to 30 kilometres per hour (19mph) – cannot be heard inside the car. The car is silent when stationary, and above 30kph the sound cuts out, as tyre and wind noise alert pedestrians instead.

James White, the senior campaigns manager at Guide Dogs, said: “People with sight loss rely on being able to hear cars to cross the road safely, so we’re asking all car manufacturers what plans they have in place to make sure their quiet electric and hybrid cars are safe.”