It is outside the car. If I have the window rolled down and drive slowly right next to a building I can hear it inside; in part because I do not play music in the drive thru. Without the noise maker, our legislators fear the blind will randomly wander in front of hybrids specifically.
Not really. You can always hear the engine turning, belts rubbing, fans blowing, hydraulic pumps pumping, or something, even with the quietest gas engines including the Prius. In Ev mode, the only sound is tire noise (if they've done their jobs right with the motors and PE), which is very, very low at low speeds. Especially the blind rely on this to determine there whereabouts. If this tiny noise is what it takes to keep already-disabled people safe, then that's a good thing. And with all the distracted people walking around looking at their phones, there are a lot more blind people than there used to be.
Not in conventional cars. I've stood next to a thousand cars. None of them are as quiet as a Prius in Ev. Not even close.
But you said ou can always hear the engine turning, belts rubbing, fans blowing, hydraulic pumps pumping, or something, even with the quietest gas engines including the Prius. That is why I mentioned that.
That was in response to the statement, "even though there are many gas engine cars as quiet as a prius at 15 mph." Obviously, I was referring to those conventional gas-engine cars, not the Prius.
Where is the location of the noise maker. I would like to look at it. I know where my other Prius's were but I can't seem to find it.
In the US, I believe it is not yet required. It's the law: Electric cars must make noise after September 2019 - Roadshow
