WASHINGTON - Nissan, General Motors and other makers of electric and hybrid vehicles will be required by U.S. safety regulators to install warning systems that will automatically sound alerts to pedestrians.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and advocates for the blind have raised concerns for several years about safety risks to pedestrians posed by hybrid and electric vehicles that make little engine noise.
"Even as we make giant leaps forward with hybrid and electric vehicles, we must remain laser focused on safety," NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said in announcing the start of a rule-making process. "With more and more quiet vehicles on the road, we have to consider their effect on pedestrians."
Japan in 2010 recommended that sound alerts be required on hybrids that can run exclusively on electric motors, electric vehicles and fuel-cell vehicles.
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NHTSA by law must write a standard by July 4, 2012, for an alert system that doesn't require action by a driver or pedestrian to activate it, the agency said. All vehicles of the same make and model must have the same alert sound, the notice said.
GM's Chevy Volt and Nissan's Leaf, both plug-in electric vehicles, offer sound-alert systems. The Volt's is activated when the driver pulls the turn-signal handle. Nissan's new Infiniti M hybrid sedan also has audible alerts.
Toyota, the world's biggest seller of hybrid electric autos, later this year will include an audible pedestrian alert on its new Prius v wagon that engages when the car runs at low speed on battery power.
Ford is developing sounds for its 2012 Focus electric model, due out later this year, after running a Facebook poll to solicit customer feedback.
NHTSA said its regulation will cover light and low-speed vehicles, motorcycles, buses and heavy-duty trucks.