Turn Off VESS (Virtual Engine Sound System)

It is not hooked up to the actual VESS system. He connected his setup (Arduino I believe) directly to the CAN bus inside the cabin, parts sitting on the passenger seat with a speaker in the seat as well.

Sent from my moto x4 using Tapatalk

 

Removing the connector stopped the VESS but as someone else wondered about earlier in the thread: it is an 8-pin connector, why 8-pin? are the 8 pins all used by the VESS? ... Can someone confirm, ideally from a Kona diagram, that opening the connection does not create problems or stopped other functions?

 

There is a line for the switch (in applicable markets), one for the status LED, two for the CAN, two grounds, full time power and ign power. Don't worry about it, there have been no reported errors from unplugging it.

 

The Guardian just ran a story about the menace of silent cars that shows the usual ignorance about what we call VESS. The system was never meant to curb the (non-existent) slaughter of pedestrians by hybrid/EV drivers bent on asserting their right-of-way. It came about because it was asked for by those who rely on hearing to maneuver their way around safely. As I'm sure we've all noticed, most sighted people are oblivious to the moaning mermaid.

 

The car communicates speed and direction (forward vs. reverse) to the VESS system as it oscillates differently based on speed and directions and therefore you need several pins to communicate that information.

 

I have actually almost walked into a pillar,or street light pole myself while on my mobile,so I don't know how I could forget this annoying group.

 

Two things about the VESS really bother me:

1. Why does it sound when the car is stopped with foot on the brake? Lots of ICE cars turn their engine off in this situation. An electric car shouldn't be noisier than an ICE car.
   
   
2. It seems louder inside the car than outside. I wonder if mounting it on rubber spacers might help, or if there's some way to direct the sound outside and/or down.

Other than that, it's less annoying than I had expected. I like the reverse sound (if anyone back there can hear it). And in forward, since I control the speed, I'm also controlling the VESS pitch, which makes it somehow more tolerable.

 

Already is ...

 

I have just ordered my Kona EV so I can't speak from experience, but I thought the VESS sound is supposed to stop when the car is stopped with foot on the brake! --- if not, I agree, it simply does not make sense.

 

It’s to alert blind people that there's an active vehicle nearby. As owners can attest, most sighted people are oblivious to the VESS.

 

Unfortunately, the NHTSA does not agree with us. The regulation requires a sound when the car is on, stationary, and the automatic transmission "is in Neutral or any gear position other than Park that provides forward vehicle propulsion" (CFR § 571.141(S5.1.1)(i)). So blame the feds, not Hyundai.

The sounds are required up to 30 km/h (18.6 mph) in the US and 20 km/h (12 mph) in the EU.

 

Does that mean that the VESS switch has been removed in the EU 2020 version,
or in any other locale whose 2019s had it?

_H*

 

See https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/acts-regulations/road-safety-initiatives-planned.html#Quiet-Vehicles-Regulations --- the VESS is not presently mandatory, not clear when regulations will be determined and even less clear when they they will be implemented.

 

A unallocated new Elite (top spec) just appeared for sale on a dealers lot here, NZ, the first time ever as all earlier shipments were preordered. The photos show it still has the VESS switch.

 

If I don't want to hear it, I'll take out my hearing aid. But otherwise, I still think it is a good idea since we all know that many people run around with their mind far away..

 

I don't know how effective it is. I am getting oblivious to it when I am driving. Even though it seems pretty obvious from outside of the car I have had zero pedestrians actually notice. I will likely unplug it when I can get chance to squeeze my hand in there. Last time I looked it was not in our relevant regulations or the law in Canada and manufacturer participation is voluntary at this time.

 

Does anybody know if there is actual vetted information about the effectiveness of these VESS systems? Is there actuarial or other real life data on these?