Buyers who want in on this attachment need to pay for the hardware and pay for the installation, something that’s weird since it’s not yet government-mandated. The speaker turns on every time you start the car, but can be disabled if you’re planning on engaging in some attempted vehicular manslaughter.
It’s compatible with the third-gen Prius, but will available for Toyota’s other hybrids and electric cars. [Toyota via Physorg via Ubergizmo]
moloko
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 9:34 AMIt should be a law for the manufacturer to install them, those things are dangerous when they come out at you in silent stealth electric mode.
MrOdd
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 10:03 AMThat is a freaky sound. I was wondering when the UFO would appear to zap the girl walking down the road.
I think it should be a standard feature, and it should sound more like a car engine (a V8 sound would be great) not a weird SCI-FI space ship.
Ken
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 10:55 AMIt needs to make that “dit-dit-dit” sound that the Jetson’s space mobile did.
Of course, this thing will be modded like crazy, so that you can download “engine tones”. Imagine having to put up with the gimp who picks Justin Beiber’s “Baby” as their engine sound.
*groan*
K
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 11:30 AMWhat a weird noise, there is already a cigarette socket powered device that mimics the v8 noise (the sounds vary depends on your engine speed too) for your driving pleasure for much less, could apply the same tech on outside of the car for that purpose.
Or can simply have an old tech microphone and speaker, just yell “get the f out of my way!!!” and see verbal road rage on the rise with this.
ss-v
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 11:34 AMYeah ill just keep driving my 6.0L v8.
I dont need a speaker to let pedestrians know im coming.
Andrew R
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 11:40 AMAs electric cars become more mainstream (and more idiots step onto roads without looking while wearing headphones) this issue will continue to grow.
Adding sound is only a part solution. A better future is one that has less noise pollution. Let’s find more creative ways of letting pedestrians and drivers know.
Imagine vibrate or sound functions for headphones that work with proximity sensors. Or two way communication between vehicle and pedestrian devices.
K
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 1:56 PMThose idiots with earphones that wander out to the road without looking, the only way to let them know there’s car coming is to give them a nudge with your front bumper, period.
Rich
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 2:25 PMYeah K. Then drive back to your cave and beat up the missus.
Dean
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 6:52 PMThis is stupid. What about those cyclists zooming along, potentially knocking into pedestrians? People need to take some responsibility of their own, before they blame others… Ever heard about looking both ways before crossing the road?!