Why do electric cars whine?

It's a widespread fact that electric cars are completely silent, much unlike their gas-driven counterparts, but could it be possible that information is actually not completely true?

In reality, there are actually a number of components that cause electric cars to whine.

1. The transmission - Despite most electric cars not having gears like their internal combustion counterparts, they still need a way to convert the rotational energy that the electric motor generates to the wheels. Transmissions make noise in all cars, but this noise is usually masked by the noise of the engine in gas powered cars.

2. Electric motors - When asking why electric cars whine, the most misrepresented concept is that of the car's electric motor. While it is true that electric motors are mostly silent under low loads, but when placed under heavy load, the electromagnets that generate energy start to whir and hum.

3. Safety regulations - United States and European regulations require that fully electric or hybrid vehicles make noise at low speeds so that pedestrians will notice that they are there.

Should electric cars be required to create noise at low speeds?

• 0%yes
• 0%no