bclexus

I think the GS 450h has what Toyota/Lexus calls their 'Vehicle Proximity Notification System' which is a synthetic noise to alert people of the car's presence when the vehicle is on the traction motor and otherwise would not be making a noise that can be heard. I think the noise is only made at very slow speeds, maybe below 15mph or so, when only the traction motor is being used.

I've read that the noise is very annoying to some people and it sounds like what a UFO might sound like with high and low frequency alternating sounds. I have never heard the noise from my car, but I seldom drive with the windows down or have someone else drive the car when I'm nearby.

I'm curious to know, have you heard this Vehicle Proximity Notification System' synthetic noise from your GS 450h? Is the sound annoying? Can it be disabled? Does anyone have a video or sound clip of the noise it makes?

peasodos

iTrader: (1)

It's a safety feature for pedestrians. I think the speaker is located somewhere in the front bumper area, you can disconnect it for silence, but then you get a warning light or notification in the dash.

bclexus

Have you heard this Vehicle Proximity Notification System' synthetic noise from your GS 450h? If so, is the sound annoying?

Im2bz2p345

I've heard it in the 4GSh and it's not super annoying to me, but then again, I'm in the one driving and it's rather brief (since the car doesn't stay in EV mode very long).

I don't know think it changes frequency as drastic as the Prius did, so it's probably less annoying than this video:
The best way to hear it is if you're in EV only mode and pull slowly into a garage (being careful not to trigger the ICE) with your windows rolled down.

~ im2bz2p345

mcomer

VPNS is silent when the vehicle is stopped, loudest when you initially lift off the brake.
It is also silent when the IC motor is running because it is noisy enough to warn pedestrians.
Some years were especially loud when reversing so the front mounted speaker might be heard.
Now some models have a second rear mounted device for backing.

bclexus

Yeah, the UFO noise sound coming from that Prius (in the video) was definitely annoying.


Next time I pull into the garage (if I can remember) I'll do it in EV mode with the windows down. Sure hope the noise it makes is not like that Prius.


So, it must be in the dedicated EV mode to get the synthetic noise - just traction motor only (not in EV mode) won't produce the synthetic noise?

bclexus

703

Can be turned off depending on your region.

JDR76

I can't speak to the GSh, but in my Highlander, it's terrible. I didn't have it on my 2016, but on our 2019, it's a horrible, horrible noise. Only comes on loud like that in reverse, with ICE off. My parents' RAV4 Hybrid is the same. I've had people come up and ask what's wrong with my car...

bclexus

I heard it this evening. I put it in EV Mode and lowered the windows before pulling into the garage with a soft touch on the accelerator. The UFO type noise was actually very subdued and so soft it was not annoying, just eerily supernatural sounding. I did not try reverse..

JDR76

I don't mind the noise when in D, but put it in R and I want to plug my ears...

bclexus

I'll have to try EV Mode in Reverse sometime soon to hear how loud the UFO noise is.

bclexus

Okay, I tried both Drive and Reverse in EV Mode in my garage with the windows down. I could not tell any measurable or meaningful difference in level (loudness) of the UFO type supernatural noise between Drive and Reverse.

The EV Mode dedicated noise was so subdued and soft in both D and R that it was difficult to determine if the noise generated when in Reverse was coming from the same location/source when in Drive, or from a different location. The noise made when in both Drive and Reverse sounded the same to me.

JDR76

Good. Thanks for the follow up. I did some searching and it looks like they upped the volume in reverse starting on model year 2019 hybrids, so you lucked out.

mcomer

I have posted this 2011 Fisker Karma pedestrian warning noise clip before...still amusing!