Artificial driving noises for electric cars are only mandatory in a few years. Anyone who orders them voluntarily now receives money from the state.
The state is now funding 100 euros for acoustic warning systems for electric cars. The so-called Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) must have been installed in series by the manufacturer or by an authorized workshop at the time of the new car purchase. The funding is part of the environmental bonus, which has now been extended to the end of 2020, and is carried out by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control.
The acoustic warning system for electric and hybrid cars is designed to protect all pedestrians, but especially visually impaired people and children, from accidents with the low-noise electric cars. Some manufacturers already offer AVAS systems as equipment options for their new cars, but it is currently only mandatory for new vehicle types. Only from 2021 must all newly approved models have an acoustic warning function. Retrofitting existing vehicles is not planned.
The artificial driving noises must be activated at speeds below 20 km / h and when reversing, at higher speeds wind and rolling noises make the electric car audible. There are various requirements for audibility and identifiability for the sound of the warning tone, but within this the manufacturers are free to design.