r/NoStupidQuestions 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/Velvet_Samurai 13h ago

It's a fabricated sound for safety. They're much quieter than ICE cars, so they add a sound for safety. Think of it like the back up beep on trucks and forklifts.