Germany EV sound rules: Hamburg proposal on artificial engine noise and AVAS

© A. Krivonosov

Electric cars could keep their mandatory warning sound but lose the extra “roar” at higher speeds. That is the distinction proposed by the governing SPD and Green parliamentary groups in Hamburg: they want the city authorities to press for a Germany-wide ban on artificial noise generated by EVs beyond mandatory safety signals. The initiative is filed as Drucksache 23/5211.

This is not an attempt to ban AVAS. European rules require an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System on new electric and hybrid vehicles. AVAS automatically produces a warning sound from pull-away to roughly 20 km/h, as well as when reversing. The requirement has applied to new vehicle types since 1 July 2019 and to all new vehicles in the relevant categories since 1 July 2021.

Official EU requirements for AVAS

The Hamburg initiative has a different target: additional artificial noise at higher speeds that is not needed to warn pedestrians. Its authors argue that tyre noise is sufficient at that pace and that electrification should not artificially bring urban road noise back.

The position of Hamburg’s governing groups

It is also important to distinguish exterior noise from effects designed for the driver. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N made virtual gearshifts and synthetic acoustics a conspicuous part of the performance-EV experience. Porsche, which had previously been sceptical about the idea, now offers the Taycan with E-Shift, featuring eight virtual gears accompanied by Electric Sport Sound.

Why Porsche took an interest in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N approach

The electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé follows a similar path: its developers use synthetic acoustics and simulated shifts to restore some of the feedback familiar from combustion engines. That does not mean every virtual-gear or cabin-sound system would automatically fall under a future ban. Hamburg’s initiative is aimed specifically at additional artificial road noise at higher speeds, and the exact scope would depend on the wording of any future federal rule.

How Mercedes-AMG uses artificial sound in its electric GT

There is currently no Germany-wide ban. Drucksache 23/5211 is intended to make Hamburg campaign for a change in federal rules. Even if the Hamburg Parliament adopts such a resolution, it does not itself create a new nationwide prohibition. EV owners therefore do not currently need to disable or modify anything automatically.