To improve pedestrian safety on our roads, the government is introducing a new requirement for electric two and three-wheelers, including e-rickshaws, to be fitted with an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS).
In a move to alert pedestrians about approaching electric two and three wheelers, and e-rickshaws, which hardly emit any noise, govt will soon introduce a new regulation requiring manufacturers to have an electronic system that automatically creates sound when these vehicles are moving at speeds of up to 20 kmph.The transport ministry has published a draft automobile industry standard (AIS) for Quiet Road Transport Vehicles (QRTV) requiring fitment of Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS).This safety feature primarily is designed for electric and hybrid vehicles emitting artificial sounds to alert pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users about the presence of the vehicle, especially at low speeds where these vehicles are very quiet.When EVs run at higher speed, their tyres generate noise. Sources said the need for such an alert was felt soon after the introduction of EVs in the country, especially after reports of road accidents involving these vehicles as pedestrians could not spot them early. The AVAS is mandated in electric and hybrid vehicles across several countries, including the European Union, United States, and Japan.While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the US has made this system mandatory for all new EVs sold since Sept 2020, Europe implemented this regulation in July 2019.
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