Title: The comparison and analysis of standard production electric vehicle drive-train noise

Authors: Daniël Johannes Swart; Anriëtte Bekker; Jörg Bienert

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa ' Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa ' Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt, Esplanade 10, 85049 Ingolstadt, Germany

Abstract: The sound signatures of five standard production electric vehicles (EVs) and one hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) are benchmarked. The vehicle sound signatures are assessed through constant speed and wide open throttle (WOT) drives. The individual sound signatures were analysed with respect to time and frequency domain and a comparison is drawn between the vehicles. Sound pressure levels, third octave analysis and spectrograms are used to analyse and compare the individual vehicle sound signatures. It was found that electric vehicles contain substantial sound energy in the bandwidth above 1 kHz and lack sound cues in the 200-500 Hz band. Current literature points to diminished customer satisfaction as a result.

Keywords: hybrid electric vehicles; HEVs; hybrid vehicles; sound signature; drivetrain noise; wide open throttle; WOT; electric vehicles; vehicle noise; time domain; frequency domain; sound pressure levels; third octave analysis; spectrograms; sound cues; customer satisfaction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVNV.2016.080140

International Journal of Vehicle Noise and Vibration, 2016 Vol.12 No.3, pp.260 - 276

Received: 24 Jun 2016
Accepted: 19 Jul 2016
Published online: 04 Nov 2016 *

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