Evaluation of noise emission from passenger cars in urban traffic a comparison between electric cars and cars with internal combustion engines

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Traffic noise is one of the largest contributors to environmental noise. Electrical vehicles have since the introduction been profiled as being quieter than the traditional car with internal combustion engine. Electrical passenger cars are becoming a larger part of the traffic fleet today than before. Since it has been expected that the propulsion noise is significantly lower for electrical passenger cars. This means one could argue that the traffic noise should be expected to decrease in urban traffic where the propulsion noise from cars dominates. Measurements have been conducted in Oslo, Norway, on electrical passenger cars and passenger cars with internal combustion engines at roads with speed limit from 15 km/h up to 60 km/h. The sound exposure level was compared between the different vehicle types. In addition, the sound power level was calculated and compared with the CNOSSOS-EU method. Measurements show that electrical passenger cars were only marginally quieter than the cars with internal combustion engines.