Turn Off VESS (Virtual Engine Sound System)

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/technology/article-stealthy-electric-vehicles-face-new-safety-rules-that-will-make-them/

 

As I've noted many times before, the fun of having a switch is turning it 'off' immediately after being noticed. Adult pedestrians wonder where the spaceship landed but kids are not fooled. They know we're driving 'electronic' cars.

 

OK, they quote a 35% increased risk of pedestrian injury and cyclist injury with EV and hybrid. But, there are no numbers. So, if the numbers are really really low, as I expect they are, then a modest increase is still really really low. I'm sure those numbers are known, but are not quoted in the article. I am a physician, and we deal with statistics all the time with regards to risks. Double the risk of a disease with an incidence that is nearly zero is not relevant, yet it makes great headlines. Now, it could well be that there are significant numbers of pedestrian/car parking lot injuries, and noisemakers may very well help, but without real data it is hard to draw conclusions. Evidently lots of government agencies in Europe, Canada, and USA think so, so it may be real. But it would sure be nice to see the numbers.

 

I don’t understand why people are bothered by the sound, you can hardly hear it! Just put some music on and chill!


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs

 

The actual report they reference is here https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811526

According to their data the actual chance of pedestrian collision with any vehicle is under 1%. The incidence with an ICE vehicle was 0.57%vs 0.77% for a hybrid and that is where the increased relative risk of 35% came from. Basically you have 0.2% overall increased risk to pedestrians by running silent vs a ICE vehicle, which is real life meaningless to me. I feel no guilt turning off my VESS.

 

OK, this is the kind of info I understand. I will look at the report. But with such a low incidence I would have to agree.

 

Has anyone looked at redirecting more of the VESS sound away from the inside of the vehicle? Is the sound directed toward a hard surface that bounces it back into the engine compartment?

What's involved in removing the pieces to get to that view?

One of my pleasures in driving a Volt was how quiet it was. Friends in the back seat commented on how easy it was to carry on a four way conversation, even at freeway speeds.

Don't get me wrong - I love the Kona - but the increased tire and VESS noise makes it less enjoyable.

I concede that this does not apply to people who prefer to crank up music - or news - when they drive.

 

Remove the front bumper.
https://www.hkona.com/front_bumper_cover_repair_procedures-1296.html
It might be far easier and useful to install a switch, details covered at the start of this thread.

Photo credit to Eric R.

 

Haha, can you drive it like that? Looks like a FrankenCar...

 

Hi, do you know, where exactly is this black box located? Can you send a picture? I have Kia Niro EV, and even I am irritated with this sound. I plan to disable it once I find where it is situated! Thanks!

 

Can you give us some idea of what's involved in that? Is it just a case of removing bolts (how many?), or do hoses and wiring need to be removed? Is it straightforward or tricky?

 

Thanks!

I don't want to turn it off. I dislike the sound but bow to the safety benefits. And I am concerned that if there is an accident with a pedestrian or cyclist, an unplugged VESS might be an issue.

So I am wondering if the sound inside the car can be reduced by surrounding the VESS unit with sound-absorbent materials on the top and sides. My hope is to direct the sound down to the road and out, rather than reflecting back toward the passenger compartment.

 

So, you can pull the plug, with zero consequences other than not having a VESS, and/or you can install a switch. No one anywhere in the world has done this yet but installing a switch would be fairly easy for someone who is an electronic hobbyist and doesn't freak out at the idea of surgically-invading a couple of signal wires. For everyone else, it would be far easier to just unplug it.
Many people have unplugged it on the Kona without disassembly of the bumper so it can't be too hard. No idea about the eNiro, sorry!

 

I can't help feel that your overthinking this, just put your hand in there, squeeze the tab, pull up on the connector, drive around in relative silence,enjoy your car and if in the end it causes you angst plug it back in.

 

Fair enough but not sure whats worse turning it off or directionally attenuating the sound to some unspecific and untested level and at the same time hope it meets the same safety standards it was originally designed for.

 

The instructions to remove the bumper have been provided. The one person who did this is not on this forum, unfortunately.

 

I've got the same in France... All Options in on a 64kW verstion, however, I didn't have the heated steering wheel option nor the front seats air-cooling (heated seats I've got, but it gets hot here :-( ) ... nor even a sunroof. Strange how they change change parameters by country. Apart from the VESS, the options I mentioned shouldn't be subject to any regulations :-(