Measurement and Assessment on Environmental Noise Impact of Electric Vehicles in Accelerating Condition

Noise emission from the vehicles propelled by electric system (such as pure electric and hybrid electric vehicles, EVs) is usually lower than the conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. Some previous studies have been shown the difference in A-weighted sound power level of EVs from the conventional ones. The difference is not dramatically large, i.e. less than 4 dB when the cars running at constant speed of 20 km/h. In this paper, we present the additional measurement results of sound power level of EVs in accelerating condition. Because when the cars in accelerating condition, the difference of propulsion systems becomes more significant on noise emission. The results are shown as regression model of sound power level depending on the vehicle speed. Moreover, the environmental noise impact of growing population of EVs is assessed through a prediction of at a case of intersection.