GM and National Federation of the Blind Team to Stop Danger of Silent Hybrids

We’ve seen that the quiet operation inherent within a small electric motor can be dangerous if not deadly. Not surprisingly, automakers are working to address the issue and GM has teamed up with the National Federation of the Blind to analyze potential solutions.

“We are confident electric vehicles can produce a safe and acceptable level of sound to alert blind pedestrians to their presence,” said John Paré, NFB executive director of strategic initiatives. “We look forward to working with Chevrolet and GM to identify an appropriate sound that will alert pedestrians in the most effective and least disruptive way possible.”

Members of the NFB have been meeting with GM engineers to determine a safe level of sound that can serve as warning to pedestrians. Most recently, they were given a demo of a pedestrian warning alert being developed for the Chevy Volt.

As electrics and hybrids become more prevalent in the market, the impetus is on manufacturers to develop means of ensuring the safety of everyone around. Want to hear Chevy’s proposed solution? Check out the video below.