[bwilson4web]

Hi,

S.841, "Bell the Hybrid," remains flawed legislation because it will make hybrids just as deadly as today's ordinary cars. Some 'truth stretching' was used to pass this legislation. But the latest NHTSA report, DOT HS 811 496, is a credible piece of work:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/NVS/C...011/811496.pdf

I have not read it in detail but the parts I have read are not bad. But it is still based on a math trick, lying by comparing percentages, not absolute rates:

HEVs are two time more likely than ICE vehicles to be in a pedestrian crash where the vehicle is backing out, slowing/stopping, starting intraffic, and entering or leaving a parking space/driveway. . . . The crash incident rate for the combined set of maneuvers is 1.2 percent and 0.6 percent for HVEs and ICE vehicles respectively and the difference is statistically significant. The analysis, conducted by NCSA, uses a small sample (8,387 HEVs and 599, 703 ICE vehicles) and does not intend to provide national estimates (Hanna, 2009).

The "two times more likely" is based upon comparing "1.2 percent and 0.6 percent" which begs the question of what is the total vehicle risk. I'm sorry but this a math trick equal to Enron accounting, 'credit default swaps' and S&P credit ratings. Regardless, the big lie worked, again, and S.841 is law.

The emphasis of this report is on replicating engine noise at speeds under 20 mph. Although there were references to synthetic sounds, the emphasis of this report is replicating engine noise all but identical to engine noise. This is good because the observers, the blind, handle engine noise in their training and daily walks. Although a synthetic alert might be more easily detected, the familiar engine noise is preferred . . . and I agree.

Hybrids and electrics are different and I have no doubt that makers of 98% of all cars, the gas/diesel makers, wanted our cars to sound like clown cars. But making sounds exactly like a gas engine means our cars will be indistinguishable from their products, an ordinary car that gets jaw dropping mileage.

Bob Wilson