Electric vehicles (EVs) have long been praised for quiet operation and low emissions, but their lack of engine noise can pose a danger to pedestrians, cyclists, and especially visually impaired people at low speeds. To fix this, the government of india is now introducing a mandatory sound system called AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System) in EVs — meaning silent EVs will soon have a voice!
📣 What Is AVAS — and Why Is It Needed?
AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System) is a safety feature that makes electric vehicles emit an artificial sound at low speeds, alerting nearby pedestrians and road users of the vehicle’s presence.
- EVs are very quiet at speeds below ~20 km/h, unlike petrol or diesel vehicles that naturally produce engine noise.
- This silence increases the risk of accidents in crowded areas or streets full of pedestrians and cyclists.
- AVAS solves this by playing a sound through external speakers that corresponds to the vehicle’s movement — similar to an engine hum or alert tone.
The idea isn’t to make EVs noisy for no reason, but to ensure safety without confusing people — sound stops automatically once the vehicle goes above low‑speed thresholds, where tyre and wind noise helps with detection.
📅 New government Rules for AVAS in India
India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed new rules to make AVAS mandatory in electric vehicles:
✅ From October 1, 2026: New electric passenger and commercial vehicles must include AVAS.
✅ By October 1, 2027: All existing EV models must also comply with the requirement.
📍 The rules apply to passenger cars, buses, and goods vehicles (categories M and N).
This aligns india with other major markets like the EU, U.S., and Japan, where similar AVAS requirements exist for hybrid and electric vehicles.
🚶 How AVAS Works in Everyday Driving
🔹 Activates at low speeds (usually below ~20 km/h) or when reversing — when EVs are otherwise almost silent.
🔹 Emits artificial sound using external speakers — often engine‑like or futuristic tones, sometimes customizable.
🔹 Turns off at higher speeds — because tyre and wind noise are enough to make the vehicle noticeable.
Some systems even adapt the sound based on speed, direction, or vehicle movement to better inform pedestrians and cyclists.
👣 Who Benefits Most from AVAS?
The main goal of AVAS is to protect vulnerable road users:
✔ Pedestrians (especially those who are visually impaired)
✔ Cyclists
✔ Children and elderly people in busy streets
Electric vehicles can be hard to detect by sound alone at low speeds — and AVAS makes them more noticeable, reducing the chances of surprise encounters that could lead to accidents.
📌 What This Change Means
🔹 Safety First: India’s move to make EVs emit sound will likely reduce low‑speed accidents involving silent EVs.
🔹 Tech Integration: AVAS systems will become a standard part of EV design, fitted with speakers and software that control the alert sounds.
🔹 Global Trend: Many countries already require AVAS or similar auditory systems — india is now officially joining this safety standard.
📍 In short: The future of electric vehicles in india is about to get a little louder — but for a good reason. The introduction of AVAS will help keep pedestrians, cyclists, and all road users safer by giving silent EVs a sound that others can hear and recognize.
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