Nissan Leaf to Sound Like “Blade Runner” Cars
One of the main criticisms of electric cars is that they are too quiet. If pedestrians cannot hear the cars coming, they may try to cross the street without even looking both ways! While this is unlikely, a car noise is safer for blind people who often cross streets by listening for oncoming cars. That’s why Nissan has announced the new noise for the 2010 Leaf model.
Nissan’s sound engineers said they are adding a “beautiful and futuristic” sound to the Leaf that will sound like they are straight out of the movie “Blade Runner.” This Ridley Scott science fiction thriller takes place in 2019 in Los Angeles. The cars in the movie are flying cars, called “spinners,” and they emit a certain buzz that Nissan has captured for the 2010 Leaf.
“We decided that if we’re going to do this, if we have to make a sound, then we’re going to make it beautiful and futuristic,” explained Toshiyuki Tabata, the noise and vibration expert for Nissan. “We wanted something a bit different, something closer to the world of art.”
Currently, Congress is considering The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008 which would require electric cars to emit a minimum sound for the safety of pedestrians. Nissan has already responded to those concerns before the government has required it.
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