How to add engine sound to an electric car
Electric cars are quick, smooth and almost silent. Most drivers love that. Some miss the sound of an engine: the rise in pitch as you accelerate, the blip on a downshift, the crackle when you lift. This guide covers the ways to bring that sound back, what is legal, and how to set it up in about five minutes.
Why electric cars are silent, and the hum you do hear
An electric motor has no combustion, no exhaust and no gearbox full of ratios, so there's almost nothing to hear. The low hum or whine you notice at walking pace is the AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System). It is a pedestrian warning sound that the law requires on new electric and hybrid cars. In the EU it applies up to 20 km/h, and in the United States up to about 30 km/h (18.6 mph). Above that, tyre and wind noise are thought to be enough.
The AVAS is for people outside the car. It isn't meant to sound like an engine, and you shouldn't try to change it. Adding engine sound for yourself is a different thing: it plays inside the cabin, for the driver and passengers.
Your options compared
| Option | How it works | Cost | Things to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory sound pack | Some makers offer a synthetic drive sound in the car's settings, sometimes as a paid download. | Free to a few hundred euros | Only on some models; usually one or two sci-fi tones, not a real engine. |
| Exterior speaker kit | A speaker under the car plays engine sound outside. | Hundreds of euros plus fitting | Can conflict with noise and type-approval rules, and can interfere with the legally required AVAS. Not recommended on public roads. |
| Plug-in sound box | A box reads speed from the car's diagnostic port and plays through its own speaker. | €100 to €400 | Needs hardware in the car and a separate speaker; sound quality varies a lot. |
| App (EVSOUND) | Plays engine sound through the car's own speakers, driven by GPS speed. | Free 5 min a day; unlimited €4.99/month or €24.90/year | Nothing to install or fit; works in almost any car; inside the cabin only. |
How EVSOUND makes it sound real
A looped recording sounds fake the moment you speed up. EVSOUND runs a virtual engine and gearbox instead. Every moment it works out the gear, rpm and throttle from your GPS speed and acceleration. It upshifts under power, holds gears when you lift, and rev-matches with a throttle blip when it shifts down.
The flagship engines (Flat-Six Track, Flat-Six Sport and V12 Grand Tourer) are real onboard recordings. EVSOUND finds the part of the recording at the right rpm, whether the engine was pulling or coasting at the time, and re-pitches it live. The overrun pops you hear come from the same recording. The other engines (V8, V10, turbo four, five-cylinder, V-twin, diesel) are modelled cylinder by cylinder in real time.
Set it up in five minutes
- Open EVSOUND. If your car's screen has a web browser, open getevsound.com there. Otherwise use your phone, connected to the car by Bluetooth, USB, CarPlay or Android Auto, so the sound plays through the car's speakers.
- Allow location. The browser asks once. EVSOUND only uses GPS to work out your speed, and the location stays on your device.
- Pick an engine and set the volume while parked. Try Test drive mode to rev it with on-screen pedals.
- Start the engine and drive. Keep the page open; EVSOUND keeps the screen awake while it runs.
On a phone, add EVSOUND to the home screen. It then opens full screen like an app.
Is it legal?
Playing engine sound inside your own car through the audio system is like playing music: it's your choice, at your volume. Two common-sense rules apply. Keep the volume at a level where you can still hear sirens and horns. And don't play it through speakers outside the car on public roads, where noise rules and the required pedestrian warning sound apply. Rules differ from country to country, so if in doubt, check yours.
Tips for the best sound
- Turn up the bass or the "sub" level a notch in the car's audio settings: engines live in the low frequencies.
- Use the car's own speakers rather than a phone speaker; a phone can't reproduce the low rumble.
- In tunnels or dense cities GPS can drop out for a moment. EVSOUND holds the engine steady until the signal comes back.
- Choose the engine to suit the drive: the V12 for a relaxed motorway cruise, the flat-six track recording for a mountain road.
Common questions
Will it drain my battery?
Barely. Playing audio and reading GPS uses about as much power as music with navigation running. In an EV, that's nothing next to the drive battery.
Can passengers outside hear it?
Only as much as they'd hear your music. EVSOUND plays through the cabin speakers.
Does it work in a plug-in hybrid or a petrol car?
Yes. It only needs a browser or phone audio and GPS, so it works in any car, including hybrids running on electric power.
Is there a free version?
Yes. Every device gets 5 minutes of engine time free each day, with every engine. Unlimited access is €4.99 a month or €24.90 a year, VAT included; both renew automatically and you can cancel anytime.
5 minutes free every day · no sign-up