Sound alert system to be mandatory in all Electric Vehicles in India; Know why?

India is also moving in this direction. Experts believe that this decision will further strengthen road safety in the country and increase public confidence in electric vehicles. This decision has been taken specifically to prevent accidents.

New Delhi: Keeping in mind the safety of pedestrians and other drivers, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has made a major proposal regarding electric vehicles. The ministry has issued a draft notification making it mandatory for all electric vehicles to be fitted with sound alert systems, or Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS), from 1 October 2027.

This decision has been taken specifically to prevent accidents that are increasing due to the "silent presence" of electric vehicles. Electric cars and buses do not make engine noise while running, which often makes pedestrians and others unaware of their presence.

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Rules To Be Applicable For New Models From 2026

According to the ministry's notification, this system will be mandatory in all new models of electric cars, buses, and trucks (categories M and N) from October 2026. All electric vehicles operating before October 2027 will also be required to be equipped with this feature.

The notification states that this system will meet the audibility requirements set under the AIS-173 standard. This means that the artificial sound emitted by vehicles will be loud enough to be easily heard by anyone on the road and alert them.

Which Vehicles Will Be Affected?

The government has defined two categories of vehicles for implementing the rule:

• Category M: Passenger vehicles, i.e., electric cars and buses.
• Category N: Freight vehicles, i.e., electric trucks and loading vehicles.

All vehicles in these two categories will be required to be equipped with the AVAS system within the stipulated timeframe.

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Why Is A Sound Alert System Necessary?

The most important characteristic of electric vehicles is their extremely quiet operation. However, this very characteristic often leads to road accidents. Pedestrians, the blind, and other road users are unable to hear vehicle noises and thus become victims of accidents.

AVAS systems are a solution to this problem. Vehicles will emit artificial sounds even at low speeds to alert people nearby.

Already Implemented in Other Countries

The United States, Japan, and several European Union countries have already mandated such sound alert systems in hybrid and electric vehicles. Following implementation in these countries, a reduction in the number of accidents has been observed.