EVs Get A Big Honking Bill

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

This weekend’s homage to the car’s electrification, celebrating deliveries of the Leaf and the Volt to normal civilians, in addition to a whole fleet of electric THINK cars delivered to the State of Indiana, would be incomplete without mentioning that EVs can be a menace to society. These things are so quiet – that they creep up on you – just like that.

To protect society from being unduly menaced, the U.S. House of Representative s passed S. 841, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, which would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to set standards for alert sounds in electric or hybrid vehicles. The U.S. Senate last week unanimously passed the bill, cnet reports. The bill now goes to the White House for approval from President Obama. Who won’t refuse to sign such a honking bill.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • AaronH AaronH on Dec 18, 2010

    And maybe they can give "free" ice cream to the emotionally weak Amerikans as well.

  • Mikey Mikey on Dec 18, 2010

    We, as humans are gifted with a wonderfull pair of eyes. WTF is so hard about using them. I worked around electric, and almost silent lift trucks, driven by guys with an obstructed view. Nine out of ten lift accidents, were somebody not using thier god given eyes.

  • PeteMoran PeteMoran on Dec 18, 2010

    Should be a boon for the clowns that currently sell fake blow-off-valve speaker systems to Civic ricers.... Seriously though, I've surprised a few people in car parks with a GS450h.

  • Ion Ion on Dec 19, 2010

    I'm suprised people are so up in arms about this law being passed. The general idea is so that people who are visualy impared can tell when an EV is coming. Hell, most cross walks around me beep for similar purposes.

    • See 1 previous
    • Ion Ion on Dec 19, 2010

      The actuall occupants of the car are unlikely to hear the sound ommitted with the windows up due to modern sound deadening and insulation.

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