Drivers that are into the green movement and those who want to save on gas are embracing the hybrid vehicle. The problem with hybrids is that they make very little noise when running on electric power.

The lack of sound can make it hard for pedestrians to know that the car is there, especially the visually impaired. To remedy this situation Lotus has announced new technology that uses a speaker and amplifier system to simulate engine noise so pedestrians know the virtually silent vehicles are there.

The technology produces sound that rises and falls based on the position of the throttle to give people an idea of how far away the car is and if it's sitting still or moving. A bill is pending in the US that would force cars to have minimum sound levels.

Via Telegraph