YES, your car is on, and NO, you aren’t the first person to ask us this question. Unlike the loud gas-powered engines that can be heard from blocks away, hybrid and electric cars have a much more stealth-like approach.
AutoAid customers tell us their cars are so quiet they forget to turn them off! They only realize it when trying to lock the doors. Luckily, car manufacturers have figured this out and installed a safety device that won’t allow you to lock your vehicle if the engine is running.
Extremely quiet car engines have also become a concern for pedestrians, especially those who have sight issues or are blind. If they can’t hear your car, then they don’t know your car is coming their way.
What to Do About the Quiet
If you already own an electric/hybrid car with no alert system, don’t be too concerned. But be aware of your surroundings, especially near crosswalks, town centers and other pedestrian areas.
Car manufacturers have slowly been installing audible warning devices into their electric and hybrid cars since 2011, soon after the federal government passed The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010. All hybrid/electric vehicles must include pedestrian alert systems by September 1, 2019.
Maintaining Your Electric/Hybrid Car
Electric/hybrid vehicles may have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines—dozens as compared to hundreds--but they still need to be maintained. This is especially true for hybrids which contain a gas-powered engine as well as a battery.
Our highly-trained technicians at AutoAid are experts at working on electric and hybrid cars, and will perform the following checks and diagnostics on your car:
- Air conditioning
- Battery
- Brake system
- Check engine diagnostic
- Factory scheduled maintenance
- Oil change (hybrids)
We perform car maintenance on all types of vehicles. Schedule your next appointment online for your hybrid or electric vehicle and we’ll give it the TLC it deserves.