Eco-cars may be forced to make more noise

The makers of electric cars may be forced to add noise emitting devices to hybrid vehicles in an effort to improve pedestrian safety, according to the Japanese Government.

Fears for the safety of pedestrians were raised when it was discovered that the new breed of cars make virtually no noise when using battery power and travelling at relatively low speeds (still fast enough for you not to want to stands in its way, we'd guess).

Concerns for the visually impaired were particularly strong as they rely on the sound of an engine to determine when it is safe to cross a street, which is kind of tricky if there's a hybrid vehicle stalking the tarmac in near silence.

"We have received opinions from automobile users and vision-impaired people that they feel hybrid vehicles are dangerous," said a transport ministry official.

Hybrids have also seen a massive surge in popularity out in Japan; the new Toyota Prius has recently become Japan's bestselling car. This has been put down to high oil prices and global warming spurring car buyers to go green.

The Japanese government is putting a panel of experts together to determine whether these stealth cars should get compulsory noise-emitters. The US government and European Commission are also considering a similar move.

However, it doesn't seem like anyone has actually decided what noise the cars should make. Some car lovers would no doubt love a throaty V8 roar, but we're hoping there'll be some more original options too: Ocean Wash, Jungle Chorus and Spawning Belugas should at least be thrown into the hat, surely?

Via T3.com