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Virtual Sounds Create Real Delay For Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Russell Frost, Mar 1, 2011.

  1. Russell Frost

    Russell Frost the whatdrives.us guy

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    This post is written by Russell Frost, founder of PriusOwnersGroup.com. Russell is also the co-host of the advanced car tech podcast, What Drives Us. It looks as though Hyundai is having some problems rolling out their new hybrids. Despite previous announcements and delays, Hyundai has still not shipped any (or very many) hybrids here in the US. Even Nissan was willing to admit to only selling 87 Leaf EVs in January. Hyundai refused to disclose any sales of their hybrids. So the question is why? John Voelcker, at Greencarreports.com seems to have gotten an answer from Hyundai America CEO CEO John Krafcik. Krafcik told him "the first 2011 Sonata Hybrid was delivered by Hardin Hyundai in Anaheim, California, in January. But a last-minute specification change made "amazingly late in the process," in November--with production scheduled to start in December--meant that Hyundai "ended up losing a couple of weeks of production timing," Krafcik said." But why? As it turns out Hyundai was going to allow owners to manually switch off the engine noise maker required by upcoming federal law. Hyundai decided, at the last minute, to remove the switch. Instead of allowing a few of the first vehicles to have this switch and fixing it in later production, Hyundai America has gone through the already produced cars and changed the wiring harness so that the noise maker is on by default and cannot be changed. In the Hyundai hybrids this noisemaker is activated when the ICE is off and the vehicle speed is at or below 12 MPH. So all of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrids will have a permanently-on noisemaker (until some crafty aftermarket company finds a workaround, we suspect). The pointlessness of the noisemaker isn't really the issue with a federal law backing it's inclusion on these vehicles. The final word goes to greencarreports' Voelcker who had the brilliant parting shot: "Europeans, who called the electric-vehicle-only mode on Toyota Prius hybrids the "cheating husband button," must be laughing their heads off." Indeed. [GreenCarReports]
     
    #1 Russell Frost, Mar 1, 2011
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    nothing to do with the noisemaker, it's a technical issue they don't want to admit to.
     
    #2 bisco, Mar 1, 2011
  3. DanMode

    DanMode Brooklyn Prius Guy

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    I still can't believe we're going to have to go through with this noisemaker fiasco. Ugh. :rolleyes:
     
    #3 DanMode, Mar 1, 2011
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    especially without a shutoff switch.
     
    #4 bisco, Mar 1, 2011
  5. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    I suppose this recall / delay was due to liability. If the switch is turned off and some careless person runs over a pedestrian, the pedestrian's family could try to sue the car manufacturer for irresponsibility in allowing the switch to be disabled. How about if the switch is accidentally bumped and turned off and the driver says "I thought it was on. Good going Hyundai!"

    I have a feeling we may lose this noisemaker thing by manufacturers simply trying to release themselves from any liability. If four manufacturers add noisemakers and one doesn't, suing lawyers will be sure to use that to their leverage.
     
    #5 Rybold, Mar 1, 2011
  6. ramdulari

    ramdulari Member

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    Is it just me or did anyone else also noticed that the Hyundai in the pic in the related article has a grill that clearly apes an aston martin? At first glance on the PC homepage my first thought was Aston Marin news in PC...interesting! On closer scrutiny, the grill looked just very outsized (especially after realizing it's not an AM in the pic) and cheap.
     
    #6 ramdulari, Mar 2, 2011
  7. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

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    Ironically, Nissan are now reportedly having to delay the introduction of the Leaf in the UK - because the noise-maker is not permitted. Vehicle warning sounds must be disabled by the driver between 11pm and 6am! Since Nissan's can't be disabled by the driver...

    ...they're removing it entirely.

    Thank you, obscure legislation.
     
    #7 Mike Dimmick, Mar 3, 2011
  8. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Surely they could work a system to automatically switch the sounds off between these times?
     
    #8 GrumpyCabbie, Mar 3, 2011
  9. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    This is awesome!

    I wonder if the same logic can be applied to gated communities or something where they prohibit noise between certain hours as well. Oh boy :D
     
    #9 2k1Toaster, Mar 3, 2011
  10. web1b

    web1b Active Member

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    That's all pretty ridiculous. As long as it is just a normal engine sound simulation not louder than a regular passenger car engine idling and not an obnoxious loud beeping (like the law was intended for), then there is no reason for it to be affected by any such UK laws or gated community rules.
    Obviously, you can't turn off the engine sound on a normal combustion engine vehicle, so there is no reason these cars would have to run silently after hours.
    People need to use some logic and common sense.
     
    #10 web1b, Mar 13, 2011
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if they can be as quiet as the quietest gas engines at idle, they will be virtually noiseless. that would be perfect.
     
    #11 bisco, Mar 13, 2011
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