Can we talk noise please?

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Apr 25, 2010 | 11:00 AM

#16

NoiseFree

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From: Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magellan55

...My guess is the electric motor has to make some kind of noise - heck it's spinning upwards of 10,000 RPM and you have reduction gears too. Road/wind noise will likely mask it at highway speed, but at slow speed I'll bet you hear something. Shouldn't be any louder than a gas engine though.

Yeah I suspect that will be the case.

Quote:

...In fact, I was able to drive my HS up to 42 mph yesterday on battery only - it was eerily quiet, and felt like I had discovered a stealth mode :-). It just takes a very gentle throttle - keep the car in the dark green power band.

Cool! I have a feeling that once a car has been 'worked-in' and the battery has got a good charge, you should be able to replicate that 42mph thing regularly.

Quote:

No idea on the charging station, but it's really just a transformer so it shouldn't do much more than a quiet hum...

Yeah. I was thinking that perhaps it might have some active motors in it to speed things up. Is it even possible to speed up a charge?

Apr 26, 2010 | 06:47 AM

#17

Magellan55

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From: NC

Quote:

Cool! I have a feeling that once a car has been 'worked-in' and the battery has got a good charge, you should be able to replicate that 42mph thing regularly.

It would be tough in the HS - it takes a really gentle throttle, and some downhill :-) In routine driving, I don't think you could do this without a lot of angry looks from other drivers. But in an all-electric car, or a hybrid designed to drive all-electric like the Volt, it would be normal.

Quote:

Yeah. I was thinking that perhaps it might have some active motors in it to speed things up. Is it even possible to speed up a charge?

Charging all depends on the voltage and amps of your source. If your house can supply it, a 240v 70Amp supply will fully charge an electric car in just a few hours, and a quick charge will give you enough juice for short commutes in 30 minutes. I think one downside of electric cars is most homes aren't able to supply that, and charging will take more like 12 or 24 hours. If you want something quicker than that, they are also looking at battery swap stations - basically pull into a service station and swap out your batteries for fully charged ones in 5 minutes.

Apr 27, 2010 | 09:15 PM

#18

NoiseFree

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Joined: Oct 2006

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From: Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magellan55

...If you want something quicker than that, they are also looking at battery swap stations - basically pull into a service station and swap out your batteries for fully charged ones in 5 minutes.

That sounds a lot more practical if they can get the swapping down to a science.
I mean, quick and painless and no undue wear and tear on the car for the swapping. How heavy would those batteries be anyways?

Apr 29, 2010 | 07:43 PM

#19

Magellan55

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From: NC

I'm sure they are heavy, but the swapping is done underneath - you drive your car over a pit, and a machine unlatches the pack, lowers it, and lifts a new one in it's place. i'm sure they have to work out some logistics, standard battery pack sizes, etc., but Nissan I think is piloting this in Israel and several other countries now.

May 19, 2010 | 01:54 PM

#20

Magellan55

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From: NC

Looks like a moot point soon - proposed new law requires noisemakers on hybrids and electric cars to keep from surprising pedestrians. Stupid.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/19/auto...oise/index.htm

May 19, 2010 | 03:12 PM

#21

gary1944

Driver School Candidate

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 19

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From: California

Unfreakingbelieveable.....well, at least the government is involved so now I feel safe....NOT

May 20, 2010 | 01:07 PM

#22

agie95

Driver School Candidate

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 11

Likes: 0

From: TX

gov't

Well, for the most part I agree the gov't should not get involved. There are deaf people though and it would be good to have some kind of noise for them.

May 25, 2010 | 09:56 AM

#23

bitkahuna

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Quote:

Originally Posted by agie95

Well, for the most part I agree the gov't should not get involved. There are deaf people though and it would be good to have some kind of noise for them.

LOL - if you're DEAF (as in completely deaf) a freaking fog horn isn't going to help. so what's next, GIANT FLASHING LIGHTS, PLASTIC ARMS WAVING, or some kind of vibrating device so people 'feel' the car coming!?

this is why we must vote the bums out of office!!!!

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May 25, 2010 | 10:05 PM

#24

YotaCarFan

Pole Position

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 286

Likes: 1

From: MD

While they're at it, the bureaucrats can mandate a noisemaker for bicycles so they don't surprise pedestrians, either.

May 26, 2010 | 08:20 AM

#25

Magellan55

CL Community Team

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 725

Likes: 31

From: NC

LOL! After posting that article here, I also sent it to a cycling forum I'm on with that prediction :-) Generated a lot of "discussion", including references to silly laws passed in the early days of the automobile.