You finally get that notification that the electric car you ordered months ago is ready for pickup. You get to the location, sit in the car and turn it on. Pulling out into the road, you hear something a strange noise you didnt quite expect. Youexpected the sweet quietness of a full electric vehicle. But is that engine noise?

Contents A rundown of fake noiseA realistic simulationIts all about optionsEVs have no soul It is and it isnt. As humans, weve been so used to the sound of an engine for so long that carmakers think weve associated that low-frequency rumble with performance and quality. So, what are they doing? Thats right theyre pumping fake engine noises through the speakers in your electric car.

Yeah, its pretty dumb.

　　A rundown of fake noise

To be fair, notall EV manufacturers use fake engine noises but a good portion of them do, and they seem to be split into two categories.

Related First, there are the cars that try and emulate real engines. The Mustang Mach-E does this, and the sound is different depending on the drive mode that youre in. The Dodge Hornet R/T does this too, with a little more attention to detail by using only specific speakers to ensure that the noise sounds like its coming from a certain direction. Recently, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N made headlines for its fake engine noises aimed at replicating the noise of a rally car.

Hyundai NThe all-new IONIQ 5 N World Premiere The other category of fake car noise is aimed at creating a more futuristic experience. Mercedes-Benz has become somewhat famous for this with cars like the EQS, which can generate an array of crazy-sounding noises when you hit that accelerator.

To be clear, these fake noises are for the benefit of thedriver. There are laws in place about cars generating noise outside the cabin, to alert pedestrians of the cars presence, for example. This has nothing to do with what were talking about these noises are different from those that cars generate inside the cabin.

　　A realistic simulation

So why are carmakers doing this? Well, it seems to have to do with carmakers wanting to simulate the experience of driving a gas-powered car and it doesnt end with fake noises.

Toyota, for example, is building a simulated stick shift that will let drivers change gears, and some reports indicate that the system may even pretend to stall if the driver incorrectly shifts. That seems a little crazy.

It feels like a big game of pretend. Whats the difference between hearing fake noises and shifting fake gears in an EV, and doing so in Gran Turismo on PlayStation? A more realistic simulation?

　　Its all about options

The good news is that for the most part, carmakers allow you to turn fake interior noise off though there are some exceptions. But why is it the default in the first place? In 30 years, are we going to be driving around in our self-driving pods hearing fake car engine noises from a different era?

Theres nothing inherently wrong with missing the experience of driving a gas-powered vehicle and wanting to simulate that in your shiny new EV. You do you you can pretend youre driving a race car all you want.

But I cant help but feel a little silly when those settings are default. Maybe Im just too self-conscious but this is especially true when Im driving someone else. Im lucky enough to get to drive review cars a lot, and my wife wont miss a beat in making fun of any electric car that doesnt embrace the silence thats supposed to be synonymous with an EV experience.

　　EVs have no soul

For the most part, building in things like fake engine noises seems to have a lot to do with the idea that electric cars have no soul or that theyre essentially big appliances with a complete lack of personality.

I get it. Electric cars often feel the same to drive, whether theyre cheaper crossovers like the Ioniq 5, or luxury EVs like the Mercedes-Benz EQS.

But relying on things like fake noises feels like a crutch and it seems very lazy. Carmakers are relying on a simulated experience to make their cars more unique, instead of actually innovating and competing on more important features. Im not sure I would go as far as to say that EVs are being held back by simulated driving experiences, but it does seem like a pretty lame way of answering critics that argue that electric cars are boring.

I actually dont think these kinds of features will stick around, at least in any meaningful way. Enthusiasts aside, EV buyers want the big appliance experience. They want a quiet car thats easy to drive, and I think carmakers will embrace this more and more. Hopefully, however, they continue to do a little more to innovate in the space too, though.