New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Wednesday, 23 February 2011 08:56 | 
Written by Russell Brown
Delphi puts an end to silent electric vehicles
Electric vehicles and Hybrids are all well and good, but there is an inherent problem; apart from the initial financial outlay. They tend to be very much quieter than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, which can cause a problem for the blind and partially sighted.There is legislation on the way which will set a minimum sound level for vehicles and Delphi Automotive has come up with a solution. Using its background in alarm systems, it’s developed two ‘sounder’ systems; one lo-fi, one hi-fi.
Designed to live in the harsh under-bonnet environment they are lightweight, weatherproof and have a very low power consumption. They are also fully programmable so that a manufacturer can tailor the sound to suit the personality of the vehicle; at least that’s what it said in the press release. The mind boggles what they will come up with, but we won’t have a long wait to find out. The first production vehicles from a major manufacturer fitted with one of these will be on the roads by the middle of next year. Our money is on Nissan or Renault.VansA2Z’s preference would be the sound of a roaring V8 linked to throttle pedal position. This is unlikely to be a standard option, however, but we’re sure some enterprising retro-fit company will make this available. You read it here first.