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The Sound of Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Mithrandrost, Oct 7, 2018.

  1. Mithrandrost

    Mithrandrost Member

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    Hi folks. New 2018 Prius (base, Canada) owner here. After three months I am curious about the day to day sounds this car makes when accelerating and decelerating. This only came up when I went out for a drive in a friend's 2018 Nissan Leaf yesterday which was incredibly quiet (although my friend said she can occasionally hear the motor).

    So, this is what I hear: A low whine when accelerating from stop. Also, when decelerating to stop I hear a "slow down" whine. And sometimes when accelerating and decelerating at low speeds (like in a parking lot) I hear the "slow down" whine followed by a faint buzz.

    These are all quiet sounds and I am assuming I am hearing the electric motors. I have not owned a hybrid before, so can't compare it to anything.

    Throwing this out there to other Gen 4 owners, does this all sound normal? And secondly, are these indeed the electric motors I am hearing?

    Thanks in advance.



    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #1 Mithrandrost, Oct 7, 2018
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    There are two sounds that you could possibly be hearing:

    1. The inverter whine which should be similar to the LEAF.

    2. The “Vehicle Pedestrian Notification System” which is a sound that increases in pitch as you increase in speed from 0 to about 25km/h.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Oct 8, 2018
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  3. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    The sound is mainly the 2 Motor-Generators, both driving or generating. In many driving situations it's almost imperceptible when the Engine (ICE) fires up. Putting this display shows most accurately what's going on:

    upload_2018-10-8_15-45-59.png

    There's a similar one in the radio unit.

    PRIUS has many sounds - as you walk up to the car, unlock, get in, there are at least ½ doz - maybe even double that - sounds, whirrs, clicks, creaks, beeps, wheezes, hisses. And that's before you start it. The only thing it doesn't do is roar or burp. OK - I exaggerate slightly, but it's been discussed at length with PRIUS over the years.

    This video gives a broad idea about how the HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) works:


    If you have more like ½ hr, this shows it in more detail (there's also a 1½ hr version of this)


    upload_2018-10-8_15-40-9.png
     
    #3 alanclarkeau, Oct 8, 2018
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  4. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    I enjoy hearing all the various distinct sounds. Thats what makes it a Prius. :) Sometimes I turn the radio off while driving, and just listen....
     
    #4 Starship16, Oct 8, 2018
  5. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    Video on The Sounds of a 2016 Prius


    This is a great video, that really helped me, after I first ventured into the Prius universe. It shows you nearly all of the sounds you're likely to hear.
     
    #5 The Professor, Oct 8, 2018
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  6. Mithrandrost

    Mithrandrost Member

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    Thank to all! This is a great forum. The "Sounds of the Prius" YouTube video was especially helpful. I didn't think to type in "Prius sounds" into YouTube as I thought the topic was a bit too esoteric.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #6 Mithrandrost, Oct 8, 2018
  7. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Nice video. But in all honesty, NONE of our cars are THAT loud. He amplified the sound. Why not just make a video using the real sound level?

    But the tire noise you hear when he's cruising... Yep, thats mine. :LOL:
     
    #7 Starship16, Oct 8, 2018
  8. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    I guess the point of the video is to be useful to identify the noises a Prius makes, and for that the video needs to have them loud enough to be clear and identifiable. Saves people cranking their device's volume up full too.
     
    #8 The Professor, Oct 8, 2018
  9. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    What device volume can we crank up? I think only the pedestrian warning, which I cant hear at all, or just barely when right next to a building. (That subject has been beat to death.:LOL:)

    Now, in normal everyday operafion, I only hear two sounds:

    -- When opening the driver's door, I faintly hear the brake pump activation "buzz." And hear it again each time after coming to a stop.
    -- I hear the Star Trek "whir" sound briefly when accelerating after the light turns green. And hear something similar again when slowing to a stop.

    If the radio is on when driving, or the AC fan speed is moderately high, I usually dont hear any hybrid sounds. (Only the persistant tire noise! Nothing cancels that out :ROFLMAO:)
     
    #9 Starship16, Oct 8, 2018
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  10. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    I meant the device playing the YouTube video... phone, tablet, TV, computer, etc.
     
    #10 The Professor, Oct 8, 2018
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  11. Mithrandrost

    Mithrandrost Member

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    I created this post out of curiosity, not as a complaint. These sounds are very quiet, but also very distinctive. "Star Trek whir" is a nice was of putting it.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #11 Mithrandrost, Oct 8, 2018
  12. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    I like all the hybrid sounds. I even like the "back-up beep" that so many gripe about. :ROFLMAO:
     
    #12 Starship16, Oct 8, 2018
  13. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    I am comforted by the back up beep myself...
     
    #13 krmcg, Oct 8, 2018
  14. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    I don't understand why it bothers so many people. It's only on very briefly, backing up my driveway. (Reminds me of the big mail trucks I used to drive. ;)) Toyota should have put that sound on the outside, too? That would surely irritate the neighbors. :D
     
    #14 Starship16, Oct 8, 2018
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  15. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    They used to sell back up light bulbs that replaced a standard light bulb and it made the beeping sound like in the Prius but it was meant for people to hear to keep me from running over them.:)
    How many old vans did you see with damage to the right rear corner?
     
    #15 padroo, Oct 8, 2018
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