Abstract

The project LIFE E-VIA aims to tackle noise pollution from road traffic noise, in a future perspective involving a consistent portion of electric and hybrid vehicles. By combining knowledge of road optimization and tyre development, it will test an optimized solution for reducing noise in urban areas and Life Cycle Cost with respect to actual best practices. The project includes three preparatory actions, consisting of state-of-the-art studies on the components implicated in the issue: the electric vehicles (EVs), the quiet pavement technologies and the tyre role in the context of EVs vs. conventional vehicles. This report refers to project action A1 and provides an overview of the concern of electric vehicles and of their noise emission. It intends to highlight the key aspects to be taken into consideration in order to achieve the most effective and relevant implementation work, in the light of the latest technical and scientific knowledge. In the shift from conventional mobility to electromobility, the present study deals with: the electric vehicle fleet characteristics, the changed driving behaviours induced by the vehicle specificities, the different noise source features with a sharp focus on rolling noise, the changes in the noise perception by the citizens and the consideration of electric vehicles in the noise prediction methods.

Abstract

The IMAGINE railway traffic noise source model is described, which is a further elaboration and completion of the Harmonoise model. Within the EU project Harmonoise, a model was proposed including most of the main railway noise sources. In the IMAGINE project, complete formulation was put forward taking all relevant physical sources but also main operating conditions into account, and default source data was proposed. At a given section of track with a given traffic flow, for each type of rolling stock, a combination of operating conditions and physical sources may occur. The operating conditions are constant speed, acceleration, braking, curving and stationary operation. The physical sources are rolling noise, impact noise, traction noise, curve squeal in points or curves, broadband or tonal braking noise and aerodynamic noise. The IMAGINE models for each physical source are presented and their relevance for each operating condition is discussed. Some examples of default input data are given and measurement methods to obtain source data are outlined.