500e Sound When Moving Away

[Dcorre307]

I've been noticing that my 500e makes a sound when I start driving off. Is it like a safety thing to warn pedestrians? Anyone else heard this noise, and is it just a normal EV thing?

 

[sherwin143!]

According to federal law, all new electric vehicles must include a pedestrian alarm sound to let people know you are nearby.

Disabling it will probably expose you to legal action if you hit someone because they won't be able to hear you. It is covered in your owner's manual and only operates at low speeds.

 

[Scotty]

Yeah, that's likely the pedestrian alert sound. It's pretty common in EVs to help make them more noticeable at low speeds. Nothing to worry about, it's a standard feature for safety.

 

[Sandy]

I've been noticing that my 500e makes a sound when I start driving off. Is it like a safety thing to warn pedestrians? Anyone else heard this noise, and is it just a normal EV thing?

I think @Scotty is right, but does the sound change with speed, or is it consistent? Have you noticed if it stops once you accelerate beyond a certain point?

 

[FiveZeroZero]

I completely agree! It's important for safety, and disabling it could lead to liability.

 

[chancepeacock]

I got to talk about this in passing with the insurance company and about the missing warning sound and they basically said 'no beep, no insurance.' Apparently, it's illegal to drive without it, which means I couldn't even risk the hour drive to the dealer. Frustrating, because this is otherwise a fantastic car.

 

[EcoWheeler]

Yep, that's probably the pedestrian alert sound! It’s like your Fiat's way of saying, “Hey, I’m here and I’m silent, but not too silent!” It’s totally normal for EVs to have it, so no worries just your 500e being extra polite

 

[ZeroGas500]

I've been noticing that my 500e makes a sound when I start driving off. Is it like a safety thing to warn pedestrians? Anyone else heard this noise, and is it just a normal EV thing?

Oh yeah, that sound! I remember being a little confused by it at first too when I got my 500e. It's totaly normal, it's the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS). Basically, it's a safety feature to let pedestrians, especially those with visual impairments, know that an EV is moving. Since EVs are so quiet, they need to make some kind of noise. I've found it's actually quite helpful in parkng lots and busy areas. It's just a little electronic hum, right? Nothing to worry about. It's just part of the EV experience. You'll get used to it

1. Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) for EVs - Ansys