I added sound insulation to my Kona Electric

[EVPower]

Just finish install one side of my cargo with sound isolation.

From a small trip from street to some highways, from a driver seat, there is less sound coming from the back side where is insulated.

Cannot take db in the rear but will do this weekend.

Will keep you posted.

Enjoy the pic.

 

[Vince08]

Care to share what material you are using? It is something that can be purchased online?

I have bought a box of dampener but haven't found the time to stick it on to the rear wheel wells from the cargo bay.

Your pictures suggest that the wheel well area is easily accessible and without needing to remove the rear seats...is this correct?

 

[EVPower]

I always bought stuff from home hardware. I used rockwool safe and sound insulation.

Yeah, i didn't remove the rear seat. I just fold the seat and move a bit the child seat to be able to see near the door. I just fill it a bit and call it done. Anyway, don't think the sound are coming from the little side than near the tire.

 

[EVPower]

I ask my kid, that are in their child seats, which side is less noisy, without telling them what I have done. Both said the right side

Now from a sound meter on my phone, noise is reduced from at least 3db. I wasn't able to take the same route and my speed was less highway, so gain could be more. So it's not apple to apple comparison, but noise reduction is noticeable. Will keep you posted when the other side is done.

 

[EVPower]

next side done today. Seem that the amplifier is left side and the woofer is right side. Don't quite understand why.

db test will follow soon.

 

[EVPower]

so average db was 3-5 db less and max db was 3 db less too.

Next post should be for the front side.

 

[electriceddy]

next side done today. Seem that the amplifier is left side and the woofer is right side. Don't quite understand why.

db test will follow soon.

Thanks for the photos, they will come in handy for future reference. Just a thought about insulating around the amplifier, maybe it might run warmer with all that insulation contact , or did you leave some space ?

 

[EVPower]

I leave some space around near the amplifier but yeah with less air and more insulation all around, it will run a bit more warmer. But noise reduction worth more than only this.

 

[hobbit]

If nothing else it's allowing you to explore a lot of what's inside the interior trim, which is
often useful to know about ... not to mention practice in getting all those panels off
and back on without breaking fasteners [too easy to do if you aren't super-careful
sometimes].

But how quiet do you need it inside, esp. when it may compromise your ability to
receive useful information about the surrounding environment and conditions?
As someone who's always got a couple of windows open and includes ambient
noise as an integral part of input to my driving, I wouldn't have any benefit from
stuffing the cavities. I've taken enough bits apart to know that there's a *lot* of
wasted airspace in this car, which could have been reduced to make the interior
bigger. Seems sort of gratuitously bad design. Pulling out all that plastic and the
rear seats and converting to "bare work-truck" mode would open up a cavernous
space by comparison! The Kona would still be quieter than a gasser cargo van.

_H*

 

[EVPower]

I don't comprise my ability to hear important noise but my point here is the tire noise isn't. Again, why does high end car are more insulated than "normal" ? Are there less secure for them and others ? Why does upgrading sound system in a car, most of the time need sound proofing to actually see all advantages ?

Too much noise create distraction and makes you tired.

Space isn't not best way utilize (cargo side is the worst, coming from a Nissan leaf, who has way more space), but removing everything too metal isn't what I try to do here and I will not pass car security test.

 

[EVPower]

Right Front side done.

Under the carpet there's already some foam and insulation.

So most insulation was near the fender.

 

[EVPower]

so min +3 db, average was -2 db and max +2 db

same trip like yesterday, but more noise car in the other lane and a bit more traffic. doesn't seam much reduction but noise on the front left is less present.

 

[EVPower]

driver side done.

On the picture, you can see that Hyundai has put some good insulation under the carpet.

I just put some insulation under the seat and near the hood release hatch.

 

[EVPower]

next batch of photos

 

[EVPower]

db was +- the same for the last part. -2 db on average. Nothing really gain because i added less insulation but some tire noise are less noticeable, so it's a small win anyway.

Now, that all sides are done, the remaining sound seem more coming from the small thickness of windows glass and door panel. Will check that later on.

I can saw that my car is now winter ready Insulation will surely help for keeping the climate energy usage a bit lower and at the same time reduce tire noise.

 

[apu]

If you have not done so yet consider putting some insulation on the back side of the front wheel liners, its one of the more cost effective tire noise attenuators you can do. Many OEMs already already do some degree of it already.

 

[EVPower]

Thank apu, I didn't think about this one but it make more sense. Will reduce the noise at the source. Will try to figure how what to used cheaply when I'll remove it.

 

[Vince08]

Thank apu, I didn't think about this one but it make more sense. Will reduce the noise at the source. Will try to figure how what to used cheaply when I'll remove it.

Please do share if you managed to remove the wheel well liner. There are sturdy looking fasterners holding the liner that I am not sure how to remove without damaging it.

 

[nepoxx]

Do you think this would impact how much energy is needed to provide climate control? I feel like it also adds thermal insulation, which might be a big benefit for the coldest of winter days.

 

[EVPower]

Do you think this would impact how much energy is needed to provide climate control? I feel like it also adds thermal insulation, which might be a big benefit for the coldest of winter days.

I think this can help a little bit (5-10%) considering how much I put in the back. The only way the be more scientific, is if someone calculate it or take the delta before and after the insulation within the same parameter.

My goal was less noise but at the same I gain some insulation too.