DOES ELECTRIC-MOBILITY SOUND FUTURISTIC? CONCEPTUALIZATION DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR THE AUDITORY VEHICLE ALERTING SYSTEM (AVAS)

Abstract

Today, electric cars are quieter than the traditional internal combustion vehicles. The lack of noise is a good achievement from the environmental point of view; nevertheless, electric vehicles pose a risk for pedestrians and road vulnerable users due to their low detectability. From 2021, the implementation of an additional exterior Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) in every new electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle will be mandatory. Designing exterior sounds for quiet vehicles is an unexplored ground and an unprecedented challenge in the field of sound design. Therefore, a balance between the road users’ safety, car manufacturers interests, the sonic driving experience and the environmental noise, have to be considered as part of the design process. This paper summarizes the users’ needs related to e-mobility design and the role of sound design in order to improve road user’s safety but also the brand identity in the driving experience. It also introduces the sound strategies followed by automotive brands until the date; and presents the design guidelines to be addressed for the conceptualization process of the AVAS. To conclude, some future lines of work and research are identified to guide the sound conceptualization as part of the design process. Keywords: sound design, product sound design, warning design, auditory messages, vehicle design, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, automotive design, conceptualization design.