Several factors make an internal combustion engine muscle car more enjoyable than an EV. Dodge is aiming to grasp the soul of an ICE muscle car while providing consumers with electric options via the Charger Daytona; so far, they’ve added a transmission to give the feeling of shifting through the gears, a transducer “exhaust” to provide a sound much more significant than an annoying whistle, and now, it looks like the upcoming Dodge EV could get synthetic vibrations that mimic the rumble of an engine, at least according to a recent patent filing.
According to Mopar Insiders, a patent filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIP) reveals a new Active Sound Enhancement (ASE) system that aims to further blur the lines between EVs and traditional ICE vehicles by providing driving with a more immersive experience. The system accomplishes this by utilizing a sophisticated setup that combines sensor technology with advanced signal processing. Sensors are strategically placed throughout the vehicle to monitor parameters such as motor speed, acceleration, wheel speed, and torque. The real-time data is then fed to the central controller, which orchestrates the generation of engine sounds tailored to the driving conditions.
Image copyright Steven Pham, Muscle Cars & Trucks.
Accompanying the ASE system is an Active Vibration Enhancement (AVE) system, which generates vibrations within the vehicle’s structure that mimic those produced by an ICE engine. These vibrations, transmitted through the vehicle body to the occupants, create a sensation akin to driving a traditional sports/muscle car. The AVE system employs a force generator coupled to the vehicle’s body or chassis, capable of focusing vibrations to specific points within the car, such as the steering wheel and driver’s seat. This system ensures that drivers and passengers receive an immersive experience while driving the vehicle.
Stellantis acknowledges that traditional muscle cars may no longer have their characteristic exhaust sounds in an electric future. Additionally, current sound simulation systems tend to feel unnatural due to the lack of tactile feedback experienced with ICE engines, which these systems aim to fix. By incorporating ASE and AVE systems into their EVs, Stellantis seeks to offer consumers the best of both worlds: the thrilling driving experience of a traditional sports car with the environmental benefits of electrification.
These technologies could also improve safety by alerting pedestrians and cyclists to the presence of EVs in low-speed environments. At the very least, for the Dodge Charger Daytona, it’ll sound much better than the typical metal grinding sound that most EVs currently employ to warn people that there’s a car around. The real question is, will Stellantis manage to employ these systems in a way that delivers the actual thrill of an ICE for an EV? We’ll have to wait until this fall when customers start getting their hands on the Dodge Charger Daytona to know for sure, but it certainly seems promising.
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