Soundscape of electric cars

Electric cars are noticeably quiet rides. But that feature has a downside — especially for people who are visually impaired and don’t hear the cars coming. That’s why new models of electric or hybrid cars sold in the European Union must be fitted with an “acoustic vehicle alert system.” In other words, the cars have to produce a synthetic sound to warn pedestrians. That EU policy creates an opening for sound designers, as the BBC’s Chris Vallance reports.