The 'Everything Else' Argument: Sound

So we’ve already been over the emissions argument for EVs- they release fewer harmful emissions so they’re better for the environment and our health.

Today I’m going to focus on the first part of what I’ve called the ‘everything else’ argument which is comprised of:

1. Sound
2. The driving experience
3. Incentives and costs
   
   

Let’s start with sound

Have you heard an electric vehicle recently? No you haven’t because they’re pretty much silent at low speeds (at higher speeds there is some noise from the tires but that’s pretty much unavoidable until hovercars become a thing). 

So quiet, in fact, that for safety reasons, they have small speakers on them that actually make an artificial noise so that pedestrians can hear the EV coming. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything that suggests that manufacturers given them a knight-rider-esque silent mode yet!

Not yet unfortunately!

It may not sound like much (excuse the pun!) but sound pollution from road traffic is actually a serious issue for the environment as well as our health. In a study by Shannon et al. it was proven that North American Prairie Dogs that were exposed to road noise were recorded as foraging less and changing their vigilance patterns.

Birds are particularly vulnerable as well, with this 1995 study in the Journal of Applied Ecology stating that ‘(60%) [of the 43 species in the study] showed evidence of reduced density adjacent to roads’. 

Although a study in Nature show that certain species such as the Great Tit, Parus major, are able to adapt to road noise by changing the pitch at which they sing. However, the same study points out that species that are unable to do this could ‘suffer from auditory masking’ which could 'affect breeding opportunities and contribute to a decline in species density and diversity'. Even though Great Tits are able to adapt, this can cause its own set of problems- this reduces song performance and males may be perceived as being of a lower level of attractiveness as a potential mate, explained in great detail by Luther et al., last year. At a scientific scale, this level of adaptation could lead to a change in the speciation between urban and rural individuals if there are increased disparities in their behaviour as detailed in this study in Molecular Ecology. 

I should point out that in my research I did find this article in the Journal of Applied Ecology which suggests that whilst roads do cause a reduced density of birds, this is mainly due to collisions rather than noise. However, this conclusion has a number of caveats including this finding being limited to certain locations and species. However, this paper in the same journal states that when compared to noise load, ‘visibility of cars, direct mortality and pollution are considered unimportant’ for explaining reduced bird densities.

The effects are not just limited to birds and animals either. 

Cohen et al.’s study revealed that increased exposure to road noise at home, impacted the cognitive performance, measured through comprehensive and reading ability, of children. I find this particularly interesting as it suggests that it is not simply that road noise is distracting but that being exposed to road noise actually can have an effect on the brains of children. This joint study by the Institute of Education and South Bank University is specific to London and demonstrates that children in the city’s schools can have their attention, recall and test scores affected by road noise.

It also affects the general population as well. Studies by Stansfeld et al., this one by D Ouis in the Noise and Health journal, Cluydts et al. and this one in a Japanese city by Kawada et al., all reveal the effect that road traffic noise has an effect on insomnia and it doesn’t really come as a surprise; being exposed to the sound of cars makes it harder to sleep.

 I can concur, after moving from a quiet residential road in the suburbs to a room with a window opening onto Gower Street, I found it hard to fall asleep with the clattering engines of buses and black cabs in particular, going past outside.

Putting these studies aside though, I don’t think there’s anyone that would argue that there is anything positive about the noise pollution from engines and a quieter environment would always be welcomed by all! 

That concludes the sound argument, check back soon for a post about the driving experience of EVs (and if I’m lucky a chance to experience an EV first-hand!).