An electric vehicle that mimics the sound of a powerful V8 engine, without burning fuel, is now a reality for several high-end car manufacturers. These zero-emission vehicles use artificial sounds to create an experience similar to traditional gasoline-powered cars. Rosa Domm, a Green Party deputy and co-sponsor of a recent motion, calls this approach a "joke," arguing that the silence of electric vehicles should be preserved rather than turned into a marketing feature. For safety reasons, electric vehicles are required to make noise when traveling at speeds below 20 km/h. This is achieved through the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), an artificial sound mandated by the UN/CEE Regulation No. 138. The requirement ensures that pedestrians and cyclists can hear the vehicle approaching, and this measure is widely accepted. However, at higher speeds, the sound of tires is usually sufficient for detection. It is precisely at these higher speeds that Hamburg wants to eliminate artificial noise. The push to silence electric vehicles at high speeds is not just a matter of style—it is tied to real health concerns. According to the European Environment Agency, traffic noise is responsible for about 66,000 premature deaths in Europe each year. Over 30% of the population lives in areas where noise levels exceed the World Health Organization's recommended limits, with road traffic being the main source of this noise. As electric vehicles become more common, the absence of engine noise could be a health benefit, but some manufacturers are choosing to reintroduce it as a feature. Manufacturers have recognized that the absence of engine noise may be a drawback for some drivers. Companies like Mercedes-AMG, Audi, Maserati, Abarth, Hyundai, and Porsche have introduced artificial sounds that mimic the roar of traditional gasoline engines. These custom soundtracks are designed to appeal to drivers who miss the auditory experience of driving a powerful internal combustion engine. However, this raises the question: was it necessary to reintroduce a noise that had just been eliminated for safety and health reasons? A new international regulation, already seen as too lenient by some, now allows for these enhanced sounds. Until 2026, there was no international standard for external sounds at high speeds. In June 2026, Working Group 29 of the CEE-UN updated the UN/CEE Regulation No. 51 to address this gap. The new rule introduces a category called "Enhanced Exterior Sound" (EES), which allows for sounds up to 80 dB(A) from 150 kW of power (204 hp) between 20 and 80 km/h. However, Hamburg believes this is still too permissive. While the motion has been adopted, it still needs support from the Bundesrat to become law. In Germany, noise regulations are governed by multiple layers of legislation, making the task of silencing electric vehicles at high speeds a complex and multi-level challenge.