The first Chevy Volt sits at the Gearhart Chevrolet showroom in New Jersey. (John Bell / The Associated Press)
Deliveries begin
The first hybrid electric Chevrolet Volt and all-electric Nissan Leaf vehicles were delivered to their owners last week. Olivier Chalouhi, a San Francisco Bay Area resident, was the first person in the U.S. to place a Leaf order. The first Volt went to Jeffrey Kaffee, of Parsippany, N.J., a retired airline pilot.
(The Associated Press)
Too quiet
Auto safety regulators would have to set minimum sound levels for hybrid and electric vehicles under a bill approved last week by the House. Blind pedestrians say the quietness of hybrids can pose risks for them. The Senate approved its version a week earlier, and the measure now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.
-- The Associated Press
3 Comments
By Dave Lee on December 27, 2010 5:06 PM
So I guess bicycles are noisier than hybrid cars? Methinks there is something fishy about this blind people story...
By make or break on December 27, 2010 6:18 PM
I'm sighted and I've been surprised by a Prius who came up from behind on electrical power. Happened in the Northgate parking lot where there was enough ambient noise level from the streets and I-5 nearby that I simply did not hear the Toyota...until the woman honked when I stepped out in front of her path. Spooked the heck out of me. Frankly I barely heard a sound from the car as I stood there dumbfounded, watching her finally go past.
By Victor on December 30, 2010 12:30 PM
This is just so bogus. A Prius passed me from behind while I was walking my dogs last night. I heard the tires coming just like I do any car with a quiet engine and quiet muffler system.
This is just stupid.