[RahulNagaraj]

According to a news report, Stellantis has patented a new system which could make its EVs vibrate similar to their combustion engine-powered counterparts.

As per reports, Stellantis has patented new Active Sound Enhancement (ASE) and Active Vibration Enhancement (AVE) Systems. The patent also specifically cites muscle cars, indicating that the system could be intended directly towards its upcoming Dodge Charger Daytona EV.



The AVE system, according to the patent, aims to recreate the vibrations normally experienced in an ICE vehicle - especially when having a big V8 under the bonnet. The vibrations can be introduced in a number of ways, including the use of a force generator to vibrate the chassis or body of the vehicle. Another option is to include sensations at key touchpoints like the steering wheel and the driver's seat, similar to what a high-end racing simulator with force feedback offers.

The Sound system has already been showcased by Dodge, in the form of its Fratazonic Chambered Exhaust, which generates artificial exhaust notes for the Charger Daytona via internal and external speakers.

The replication of the vibrations could add a new dimension to performance EVs.

Source: MoparInsiders

Link to Team-BHP news

[thebikemaster]

Wow. That's the great technology feature. Hope these cars will also mimic smoke from a fake exhaust so that it will create the same sound, same vibration and same amount of pollution like ICE cars

Jokes apart, this is another useless feature like mimicking the sound through the speakers on the car. I really hate EVs trying to be ICE cars. People buy EVs to enjoy the silent, 0 emission, no sound kind of nature. Why go all the way for unwanted features Stellantis team?

Anyway some R&D money wasted here.

[schumi_pete]

I hope Stellantis actually focuses on improving their bread and butter ICE/hybrid powertrain rather than on something that actually no one probably cares about.

It will be nice if they offered anything other than a 1.2 litre three pot that actually has a bit more poke and soul, than worry about replicating the sound of a V8 in an electric car.

[sapien]

I think this a very valid use-case. Some points to note :

• The buyers who are used to buying cars with V8 engines might have a certain expectation in terms of how it feels while driving. If Dodge Charger goes all silent when someone is revving it hard, it may not satisfy the owners' requirement.
• We choose such special purpose cars based on how they make you feel, how they make others around you feel, the image you're trying to portray and so on.
• The noise and vibrations is something that human mind has gotten used to over the years of engine development. Now, suddenly EVs have become all silent, so companies are thinking of ways to make the transition more easy for the consumers.
• Toyota is also trying to emulate gears in EVs. Here's news link (Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission & clutch).

Capitalization opportunity for the manufacturers : They'll add these effects artificially now at a certain premium and then over a period of time, gradually reduce the sound generated by EVs and charge for it as a feature.

[IshaanIan]

So sad that all the money saved in the last two decades by cheating emissions tests and promoting diesels and then going back to petrol but not spending on any new reasearch and development, has lead to the invention of this useless gimmick vibrations must correspond to the pulses of power that only an internal combustion engine can produce. The crispness in throttle response felt under one’s foot on the pedal is something best left real and not faked.

[PaddleShifter]

BTW, an aspect engineers must have sorted is related to power consumption during fake vibrations generated by vibrating the chassis. I think I can dig why they want to add a few vibrations in muscle cars. Just like its hard to imagine a sports car or a super car without any exhaust sound.

[TheManualGear]

Even an inline-4 would produce more soulfull sound than that vibrating car. Imagine whole car vibrating on an incoming phone call!!!

[Redex]

EV,s of all types at too quiet. This is very dangerous for all road users and pedestrians. I am in favour of anything that makes EVs louder.
In the motorbike world we have a saying "loud pipes save lives"
Lost track of the number of times I have nearly stepped in front of an EV while trying to cross the road. Trying to remember to look both ways 3 times before crossing and continue looking both ways all times while crossing. Not helped by all motorists ignoring the rules and failing to stop at pedestrian crossings. In the UK the law states that all traffic MUST give pedestrians priority "everywhere"
In the UK those most at risk have the highest priority.
Regards Neil

[evil_grin]

Apple did some thing similar initially with skeuomorphic design - making a modern item look like an older one, just to make digital interfaces more familiar to new users.

Once people got used to digital, they did away with it.

I don't expect the same to last with muscle or sports cars for more than a genration.

Also, won't people who want the feel of an ICE muscle or sports car just buy the ICE version?

[Cresterk]

Originally Posted by thebikemaster

Wow. That's the great technology feature. Hope these cars will also mimic smoke from a fake exhaust so that it will create the same sound, same vibration and same amount of pollution like ICE cars

Jokes apart, this is another useless feature like mimicking the sound through the speakers on the car. I really hate EVs trying to be ICE cars. People buy EVs to enjoy the silent, 0 emission, no sound kind of nature. Why go all the way for unwanted features Stellantis team?

Anyway some R&D money wasted here.

These are not meant for current market but for the future when ICE are banned. In 30 years, this might be the only way most people get to experience a v8 of old.

[AKTransAM]

That electric Charger is kind of a joke in the car circles out here. The issue is that there's 3 distinct groups of car people-the old guard who want only V8's, the electric car crowd, and the in between family car group who could go either way, but want practicality and affordability. The last group would never buy this car because it isn't a family car. The 1st group can afford this car but wouldn't buy it, or anything electric even at a comparable price or cheaper (case in point: 2 of my work colleagues both in their mid 20s, one guy and one woman. Both could have gotten a Tesla for cheaper but instead spent a little more and ordered a new Dodge Challenger and a Ford Mustang because they wanted a V8). No amount of adding fake vibrations/noise would convince anyone in this group. This car would only appeal to the electric car crowd, and would compete in a very crowded market where there isn't really any distinction "under the hood" so to speak. Just my view.

[Samarth 619]

I think its better if they just use a small, high revving, fixed petrol engine to charge the battery instead, somewhat like a Hybrid system. Something like an overgeared 500cc engine rotating a generator should do great.
And then reduce the battery size maybe?

The idea may look like a laughable one, but, a certain chinese SUV promises a 1000mile (or was it kms?) range simply by this technique, I can't recall the name.

Its a waste of energy, yes, but it surely will help in emergency & desolate tours, and such times.