The European Parliament has voted in favor of a European Commission proposal to make electric cars more “noisy.” At the same time decrease the maximum allowed noise for new cars, vans, trucks, buses and coaches, in an effort to reduce “vehicle noise nuisance” by 25 percent.
The EU has supported a proposal to force carmakers to fit electric and hybrid electric vehicles with a sound generating device, to improve low speed safety for pedestrians and the visually impaired.
The proposed changes, which are expected to become law, would see new car noise levels reduced by four decibels, commercial vehicle noise levels reduced by three decibels.
This change would be made in three steps: The first two years after the proposal is finally approved, the second in five-seven years, the third in 10-12 years.
The current regulations on noise emissions have not changed since 1996. The reduced rates would also be tested more realistically, so that “sound emissions of a vehicle under street driving conditions will not differ significantly from what can be expected from the type-approval test results for this specific vehicle”.
At the opposite end of the scale, “Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems” will become mandatory in a standardized fashion on all electric and hybrid electric vehicles, after a transitional period of five years.
This is an effort to reduce road accident injuries since most current vehicles of these types are virtually silent when running on electric power at lower speeds — meaning it’s not uncommon for pedestrians to step out in front of them because they haven’t heard them coming.
EU Parliament votes for ‘noisy’ E-cars
EU Parliament votes for ‘noisy’ E-cars
6 planets will parade across the night sky at the end of February
NEW YORK: Six planets are linking up in the sky at the end of February, and most will be visible to the naked eye.
It’s what’s known as a planetary parade, which happens when multiple planets appear to line up in the sky at once. The planets aren’t in a straight line, but are close together on one side of the sun.
Skygazers can usually spot two or three planets after sunset, according to NASA. Hangouts of four or five that can be glimpsed with the naked eye are less common and occur every few years. Last year featured lineups of six and all seven planets.
When will they be visible?
On Saturday, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye if clear skies allow. Uranus and Neptune can only be spotted with binoculars and telescopes.
What time is optimal for viewing?
Go outside about an hour after sunset and venture away from tall buildings and trees that will block the view. Look to the western sky and spot Mercury, Venus and Saturn close to the horizon. Jupiter will be higher up, along with Uranus and Neptune.
How to know if you’ve spied a member of the parade?
“If it’s twinkling, it’s a star. If it is not twinkling, it’s a planet,” said planetary scientist Sara Mazrouei with Humber Polytechnic in Canada.
The parade should be visible over the weekend and in the days after. Eventually, Mercury will bow out and dip below the horizon.
At least one bright planet is visible on most nights, according to NASA.
Glimpsing many in the sky at once is a fun way to connect with astronomers of centuries’ past, said planetary scientist Emily Elizondo with Michigan State University.
Ancient astronomers used to make sense of the universe “just by looking up at the stars and the planets,” Elizondo said, “which is something that we can do today.”
