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"[I]n a few years, the government will require electric cars and gasoline-electric hybrids to emit some type of noise at low speeds, when their battery-driven motors usually run silent. The promised rules—aimed at making the vehicles safer for vision-impaired pedestrians and others who rely on aural cues—have launched auto makers on a quest for the perfect sound. Among those considered: noises reminiscent of jet engines, bells, birds, flying saucers and revved-up sports cars."
—They probably haven't considered this because it seems so obvious, by why don't they just go with a smug, NPR-type voice that repeats, "Look how virtuous I am" over and over?
Let the driver choose, clearly. I'd want George Jetson's flying car noise.
@deepomega That is the only possible choice.
Am I the only one who doesn't know what the hell a flying saucer sounds like?
@Bunburying: It sounds like a Tie-fighter whizzing by.
(Love your name.)
"Make way, peasants!"
I think a child's voice yelling "Brrrrrrrrmmmm, Vrrroooommmmmm!" would work well.
"watch the tram car, please."
It should be the gentle sound of a bong bubbling along the road at a constant pace
I vote for the Youngbloods' "Get Together" on a constant loop.
"Dear sight-impaired fellow human being, please be aware that my eco-vehicle is approaching. Don't ge me wrong, I would normally be riding my bike because I love mother earth but I totally twisted my ankle playing ultimate frisbee last week. Bummer, right? At least it's not a permanent handicap, no offense. Glad to see you out and about though, not letting the no-vision thing get you down. I once had pink-eye real bad so I can like totally relate. Anyway, I've got to get to Whole Foods and the MJ dispensary before they close. Good luck with the blindness thing. Message repeats."
@brilliantmistake: This is what my Prius already says, only substitute "coming out of classical headstand" rather than "playing ultimate frisbee."
Howler monkeys. Loud, and ecologically conscious to boot.
I was at the Newark airport a few years ago, and instead of a horn, the courtesy shuttle had a gentleman riding shotgun going EEEEEEOOOOOOOEEEEEEOOOOOO.
Just do a phone app. It might sing, eg, "I've got an iPhone, too".
Yakety Sax.
The theme song to Curb Your Enthusiasm.
I argued strenuously on various blind mailing lists that these added noises would never happen because carmakers would stonewall the issue. How wrong I was. Even tough-guy Israeli Shai Agassi (not tautological) liked the idea of cartones, as they are called (usually two words; ADS word of the year candidate, 2009).