Quiet Vehicle Sounder

Targeted, localizable AVAS sound makes approaching silent vehicles more audible.

Brigade’s Quiet Vehicle Sounder (QVS) is an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) that makes quiet electric and hybrid vehicles more audible to pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users at low speeds. Electric and hybrid vehicles produce significantly less engine noise than vehicles with a traditional internal combustion engine, especially when driving slowly. This contributes to a quieter environment but can also make an approaching vehicle harder to hear. QVS addresses this with a controlled warning sound that allows road users to better recognize both the presence and direction of the vehicle. The system combines Brigade’s patented bbs-tek® White Sound® technology with tonal sounds and multiple frequencies. This creates a targeted and localizable sound that is audible where it is needed: around the vehicle’s danger zone. QVS adjusts automatically while driving. The pitch and volume increase with vehicle speed, thereby mimicking the audible behavior of a traditional internal combustion engine. The system operates at low speeds, precisely when electric and hybrid vehicles can be difficult to hear on their own. As a result, QVS is suitable for electric and hybrid commercial vehicles in, for example, urban areas, depots, distribution centers, and other environments where vehicles and vulnerable road users congregate. Additionally, QVS supports vehicle manufacturers and fleet managers in meeting relevant AVAS requirements. Brigade's QVS complies with UNECE R138. QVS thereby gives quiet vehicles a recognizable audible presence, without simply producing unnecessary additional ambient noise.