Do You Like The Performance Car Exhaust Rumble? Then Don’t Read This

Noise pollution should be discussed more when talking about electric vehicles. And I love EVs for this reason: They’re quiet. I live in a rural area away from the big city, but many performance cars and trucks love to hear their big V8 gas engines roar. 

Let's Make It Even Louder

They’re loud from the factory, and owners put on an aftermarket muffler to make them even more deafening. I know I'll get tons of mail about how I need to get over it. And I get it. I was one of those guys (when I was younger) who had a loud car and was even stopped by the Colorado State Patrol and ticketed for having an illegal muffler.

How Does Noise Pollution Adversely Affect Health?

But I'm over it and am now looking at how noise pollution adversely affects millions of people. I was surprised to find out that the U.S. EPA says that studies have shown direct links between noise and health. 

What will happen to the Subaru WRX STI rumble when a plug-in-hybrid or all-electric model arrives? It could be fake. https://t.co/wJcKRIVZ1r pic.twitter.com/LGK40mIeZb
— Subaru Report (@SubaruReport) December 14, 2017

The Environmental Protection Agency states, "Problems related to noise include stress-related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference, hearing loss, sleep disruption, and lost productivity." Wait, there's more. 

Why Is Less Noise Better For Your Health?

That's why I like quiet. It lowers my blood pressure, and I'm more productive as a writer. When I'm out on my daily run on the Cherry Creek Trail, I can hear the loud cars, trucks, and motorcycles on the streets around me and they are at least two miles from where I'm running. It's unbelievable. Do I have to wear earplugs?

Harley-Davidson Owners Love Their Sound Of Freedom 

Many motorcycles are obnoxious. Yes, Harley-Davidson is the worst offender. Now I know I'll get hate mail. I know about showing off your freedom, and there are many ways to express it. But I don't want to hear your sound of freedom. 

What Are Others Saying About Noise Pollution?

I found more information on noise pollution from Virta public charging stations in Europe. 

Virta says, "Did you know that noise pollution can also have a surprisingly adverse effect on human life? Consistent loud noise is also linked to heart, sleep, or cognitive problems."

"The transportation sector is mainly responsible for the noise pollution that most of us encounter daily. While planes and trains account for some of this, the vast majority is due to road vehicles. This noise causes an innate stress reaction in humans, and we all know how terrible stress can be." 

Do EVs Reduce Noise Pollution?

"Electric vehicles make some noise when wheels interact with pavement, but they're relatively silent compared to conventional cars with engines that rev and rave."

Figure: Over 100 million Europeans are affected by noise pollution every day. The EPA says noise is the second largest environmental cause of health problems after air pollution. Approximately 10 million persons in the U.S. have permanent hearing loss from environmental noise or noise-related trauma.

100 Million Is A Significant Number

Virta says, "This means that there are 100 million people in Europe every year at risk for the physical health issues mentioned above, not to mention the degradation in their general quality of life."

The Sound Of Silence Will Be The Electric Subaru STI’s Death Knell @DenisFlierl @AllSubaru @torquenewsauto#subaru #sti #STe #wrxsti #wrxhttps://t.co/TO06aNkGVO
— Subaru Report (@SubaruReport) December 3, 2023

And it's not just cities, either. Anyone who has spent time in rural areas knows the sound of a heavy vehicle with an old engine. The electric vehicle revolution will create less stressful environments for everyone, no matter where they live.

Electric vehicles benefit the environment by significantly reducing noise pollution. This is a significant reason why I love EVs. 

Wait, don't leave yet.

NOW, IT'S YOUR TURN

Let us know if you have been impacted by noise pollution. Has it affected your health? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this EV noise pollution story. See you tomorrow for my latest report.

I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News and Subaru reporter since 2012. I’ve invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

photo credit: Ford