New electric cars must be fitted with a sound generator in Europe

From today, all new electrified car models launched in the European Union will need to be fitted with an Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS). According to the union's regulations, the system must make noise similar to an internal combustion engine at speeds below 19km/h in both forward and reverse. AVAS must be fitted to all four-wheel vehicles capable of moving without an internal combustion engine running, meaning basically all hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric cars.