EVs to Break the Silence: Mandatory Alerts from 2026!
India’s push toward quieter roads is hitting a safety note, with the government proposing mandatory Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) for all new electric vehicles starting October 1, 2026. This draft rule from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways aims to protect pedestrians by forcing EVs to emit low-speed sounds, addressing the “silent killer” risk in a market exploding with 19.5 lakh EV sales last year alone. As adoption surges, this could save lives without cranking up noise pollution.
The AVAS tech kicks in at speeds below 20 kmph, generating an artificial hum or whoosh—think a futuristic whisper—that alerts walkers, cyclists, and kids without mimicking gas-guzzler roars. It’s a phased rollout: New EV models (passenger cars, buses, trucks in categories M and N) must pack it from October 2026, while all existing ones follow by October 2027. No extra hardware headaches for buyers; it’s baked into the vehicle’s electronics, often via speakers already there for infotainment. “This is about bridging the gap between EV stealth and street smarts—ensuring no one gets caught off-guard,” said a MoRTH official in the draft notification rollout.
Many Indian EVs are ahead of the curve, with AVAS already standard on hits like the MG Comet EV, Tata Curvv EV, Tata Harrier EV, Hyundai Creta Electric, Mahindra XEV 9e, and Mahindra BE 6. Globally, it’s old hat: The US, Japan, and EU mandate it for hybrids and EVs to cut low-speed mishaps by up to 50%, per studies. In India, where EVs snagged 7.44% of 2024 sales and total registrations hit 56.75 lakh by early 2025, this aligns with the Net Zero 2070 goal—boosting confidence without derailing the green boom.
The timing couldn’t be sharper, syncing with plans for 72,300 public charging stations to juice up infrastructure. Experts hail it as a pedestrian win, especially in crowded cities where EVs zip silently through markets. “Road safety isn’t a luxury—it’s essential as we electrify,” noted an auto analyst, pointing to how AVAS could slash urban accidents tied to blind spots.
This proposal spotlights India’s balancing act: Accelerating EV adoption while dodging pitfalls that slowed it elsewhere. As US News Today follows global green mandates, it’s akin to America’s NHTSA rules fining silent Teslas—proving safety sells sustainability. In Breaking News USA, watch how this ripples to U.S. fleets eyeing Indian tech partnerships. For America Updates, could AVAS-inspired sounds become the soundtrack of tomorrow’s commutes? With feedback due soon, the draft’s fate hangs—will it tune up India’s EV harmony? Rev your thoughts below.