Sustainable Mobility’s Sound Design for Electric Vehicles: Development and Experimentation ​

The implementation of electric vehicles (EVs) offers distinctive challenges and opportunities in the field of sustainable mobility, specifically regarding safety and the public's perception. This thesis focuses on an innovative application of digital signal processing using granular synthesis to create and enhance EV sound designs. The primary objective of this research is to develop vehicle sounds that are both easily detectable and provide sufficient auditory information to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, without being perceived as unpleasant. This research systematically investigates the impact of various sound designs on individual perception using an experimental setting utilizing granular synthesis techniques. The participants were subjected to various electric vehicle (EV) sounds, and their responses were assessed to evaluate the efficacy of each sound design in terms of noticeability, informativeness, and level of annoyance. The experiments were conducted to evaluate the compliance of these sounds with existing regulations for electric vehicle sound emissions and to explore the possibility of these sounds improving pedestrian safety and overall user satisfaction. The findings of this research are expected to contribute valuable insights into how sound design can influence the acceptance and safety of electric vehicles in urban environments. This thesis seeks to propose sound design strategies that improve the functional and aesthetic aspects of electric vehicles by combining principles of sustainable mobility and advanced sound engineering. The primary objective is to advance wider acceptance and encouragement of sustainable transportation responses.