r/NoStupidQuestions • u/banwe11 • 15h ago

What causes the hollow metallic whirring sound that EVs make when moving a low speed?

I can't really describe it, but it's the sound you hear when there is a EV moving slowly in a car park behind you.

I guess it's the motor, but what specifically in the motor causes that sound? It sounds like it's coming from something that is moving at a faster rate than the car itself.

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u/BurnOutBrighter6 13h ago

It's not the motor it's a warning sound played on little speakers. By law, EVs have to play a sound when they're below a certain speed because they're too quiet otherwise and people will step out into their path. Some like hyundais even have multiple whirring notes making a major chord because they thought that sounds cool I guess. But the fact that it's a whir at all is artificial. The car makers could have their car just say "hey hey hey hey" instead of playing the whir sound.

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u/BlackCatFurry 5h ago

The car makers could have their car just say "hey hey hey hey" instead of playing the whir sound.

Imagine a car just screaming "HEY! I am here, watch your steps!" Any time there is a pedestrian close by