What should an electric vehicle sound like?

One of the chief selling points of an electric vehicle (EV) is near-silent driving as vehicles whizz along almost effortlessly. However, the automotive industry has been hard at work to address both interior and exterior noise as new challenges and opportunities emerge.

Like any passenger car, the aim is to retain an air of luxury by optimising noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). This has been one of the main challenges for the industry and is almost ironic: by removing the hums, rattles and growls of an internal combustion engine (ICE), the rush of the wind, roar of tyres and whine of electric motors become more noticeable. Even rattles from components in the cabin become more distinct. By making the car quieter in some areas, in others it has become louder.

“Sound optimisation is