When an e-car comes up from behind, it’s pretty much impossible to hear, and one plastics processor is working on preventing potentially dangerous situations that could arise by developing a sound chip. Electric vehicles can then be upgraded, making the cars’ almost inaudible sound instead resemble a conventional internal combustion engine. How precise this will exactly be – petrol or diesel? Volkswagon “Beetle” or Ford “F-150”? – only the technicians in the noise labs know.

An addition in the form of “customer-specific driving noise” can be requested. This brings to mind the initial novelty of setting catchy mobile phone ring tones. Hopefully the annoying beeping of a garbage truck reversing will be not be one of the popular sound chips for e-cars. Maybe something soothing by Willie Nelson instead?