Electric cars are ready to make a lot of noise.
The cars replacing fire breathing V8 and hissing turbos in the driveways of enthusiasts will not be silent, but instead have carefully synthesised engine sounds piped into the cabin and broadcast to other road users.
The latest high-performance electric cars have speakers inside and outside the car that play sci-fi sound effects for drivers and passers-by.
Manufacturers are approaching the challenge with a wide variety of strategies.
Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N offers a choice of sound effects including a synthesised version of the turbocharged engine found in its petrol performance cars, complete with simulated gearshifts accompanied by popping sounds from the exhaust.
It’s an approach that helped seal the deal for petrolhead and Sydney IT expert Daniel Truong, who ordered the $111,000 machine as his next set of wheels.
“The sound of revving and paddle shifting, that piqued my interest,” he said.
“It’s not exactly like a petrol car – it doesn’t have vibrations.
“But it has the same tone, it’s great and engaging for occasional track use. It feels like a car.”
BMW took a different approach. Acknowledging that without engine sounds, “the driving experience loses a degree of emotionality”, the German brand didn’t try to replicate the sound of its six-cylinder and V8 sports cars, instead turning to Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer to craft a futuristic sound for the car.
Mr Zimmer said he aimed to develop a driving sound which “ensures their performance can be felt with even greater intensity”.
It’s not easy to describe the hi-tech, space-age sound of BMW’s rapid EVs, cars that combine fizzing electronica with a textured crescendo that rises as cars gather speed.
Porsche’s Taycan Turbo has a similar tone.
But Ford took a different approach for the Mustang Mach-E, which sounds like a hybrid between Star Wars jet fighters and regular petrol cars.
Enterprising aftermarket companies have filled the void for those who love the sound of an angry V8, creating their own sounds for the electric Mustang.
Borla, a company that specialises in high-performance mufflers and exhausts, worked with Ford performance experts at Shelby to help the electric Mustang make V8 sounds.
“Sound, vision and touch are the three senses we use for sport driving and without the real-time feedback of motor and vehicle dynamics through soundwaves and vibration much of that experience is missing,” David Borla said.
“After all, who wants to watch Fast n’ Furious movies or play ‘Forza’ with no sound? They go to great lengths to ensure sound is prevalent in those mediums for a reason.”
EV sounds aren’t limited to high-performance vehicles. Fiat’s electric 500e hatchback plays a few notes of Italian opera on the first drive of each day.