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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=boacosta@pacbell.net href="mailto:boacosta@pacbell.net">Bob Acosta</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=boacosta@pacbell.net
href="mailto:boacosta@pacbell.net">Bob Acosta</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:31 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Hybrid cars</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV> News about a
solution to the problem with "quiet cars".<BR>><BR>><BR>>>
><BR>>> >>> Introducing the hybrid you can hear (so it won't
run you over) By<BR>>> >>> Michael Savage Thursday, 7 August 2008
Lotus said its Lotus said its<BR>>> >>> "safe and sound hybrid
technology" simulates the traditional grunt of<BR>>> >>> a
combustion engine Photos enlarge The fearsome roar of their engines<BR>>>
>>> is one of the first things to come to mind at the mention of
Lotus,<BR>>> >>> the stylish, lightweight British sports
cars.<BR>>> >>> That familiar growl could soon be heard coming
from a far more modest<BR>>> >>> source: beneath<BR>>>
>>> the hitherto tranquil bonnets of other manufacturers' electric
cars.<BR>>> >>> Lotus is developing technology that will put the
roar of the<BR>>> >>> traditional combustion engine under the
hoods of eco-friendly<BR>>> >>> vehicles, in an attempt to make
the quiet cars safer for unsuspecting<BR>>> >>> pedestrians -
particularly the blind - and cyclists.<BR>>> >>> Stealthy hybrids
and electric cars have come in for criticism from<BR>>> >>>
groups representing the blind and partially sighted, concerned that<BR>>>
>>> the low hum of the vehicles puts those with imperfect sight at
<BR>>> >>> greater<BR>>> >>> risk of being hit on
the roads. Some are almost silent at slow <BR>>> >>>
speeds.<BR>>> >>> Lotus said its "safe and sound hybrid
technology" simulates the<BR>>> >>> traditional grunt of a
combustion engine, making it "instantly<BR>>> >>> recognisable
that the vehicle is in motion".<BR>>> >>> It has already put the
system into a Toyota Prius, one of the most<BR>>> >>> popular
hybrid cars on the market. The device kicks in automatically<BR>>>
>>> to produce an artificial engine noise when the hybrid car runs on
its<BR>>> >>> electric motor. When the car's combustion engine
takes over, sensors<BR>>> >>> fitted to the engine and suspension
turn off the sound.<BR>>> >>> The engine noise is produced by a
waterproof loudspeaker positioned<BR>>> >>> next to the car's
radiator, making the sound seem to originate from<BR>>> >>> under
the bonnet. The system produces a pitch and frequency designed<BR>>>
>>> to help pedestrians identify the car's speed and
distance.<BR>>> >>> Lotus adapted the system from technology
previously developed to <BR>>> >>> block<BR>>> >>>
outside noise from the inside of its cars.<BR>>> >>> Electric
vehicles are tipped to become a more common sight on the<BR>>>
>>> roads over the coming decade as drivers seek ways of minmising
the<BR>>> >>> cost of ever-higher petrol prices and the issue of
global warming<BR>>> >>> moves up the agenda.<BR>>>
>>> Mike Kimberley, chief executive of Group Lotus, said: "The
increased<BR>>> >>> acceptance of greener vehicles such as hybrid
and electric vehicles <BR>>> >>> is<BR>>> >>> to
be encouraged; they have an important role in improving fuel<BR>>>
>>> economy and reducing emissions. Our technology increases
pedestrian<BR>>> >>> safety, while retaining the car's
environmental benefits."<BR>>> >>> Duncan Vernon, road safety
manager for the Royal Society for the<BR>>> >>> Prevention of
Accidents,<BR>>> >>> said: "We need to look at ways of ensuring
the safety of pedestrians.<BR>>> >>> We welcome innovative
solutions which address this."<BR>>> >>> Lotus hopes that
manufacturers of electric and hybrid cars will adopt<BR>>> >>>
the technology, which it says can also be fitted to cars already on<BR>>>
>>> the roads for a sum that would not "break the bank".<BR>>>
>>> Pressure is growing on the Government to introduce minimum
noise<BR>>> >>> requirements for road vehicles, to ensure the
noise-augmenting<BR>>> >>> technology is used and that the new
wave of quiet eco-friendly cars<BR>>> >>> poses no risk to
vulnerable pedestrians.<BR>>> >>> Clive Wood, transport policy
officer at the Guide Dogs for the Blind<BR>>> >>>
Association,<BR>>> >>> said: "Blind and partially sighted people
use the noise of oncoming<BR>>> >>> traffic as a cue for when it
is safe to cross a road. If a quiet<BR>>> >>> hybrid electric
vehicle is approaching, then they will no longer have<BR>>> >>>
this cue and are immediately put at risk."<BR>>> >>> He added:
"We recognise the environmental benefits of these vehicles.<BR>>>
>>> However, more<BR>>> >>> consideration needs to be
given to the safety implications to <BR>>> >>>
visually<BR>>> >>> impaired pedestrians."<BR>>>
>>> Silent danger on the street<BR>>> >>> *Electric and
hybrid cars are so quiet many fear they pose a risk to<BR>>> >>>
pedestrians.<BR>>> >>> One US study found electric and hybrid
cars moving slowly had to be <BR>>> >>> 40<BR>>>
>>> per cent closer to pedestrians than conventional vehicles before
<BR>>> >>> their<BR>>> >>> location could be
detected.<BR>>> >>> They have no noisy pistons, internal
explosions or fan belts which<BR>>> >>> cause the roar we
associate with the traditional car engine. Hybrids<BR>>> >>> pose
an added problem.<BR>>> >>> For<BR>>> >>> much of
the time, they are powered by a combustion engine. But at low<BR>>>
>>> speeds, an electric motor takes over, making them very quiet. The
new<BR>>> >>> system from Lotus kicks in when sensors detect the
electric motor is<BR>>> >>> working.<BR>>>
>><BR>>> >><BR>>>
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