Noise is not only environmental pollution – countless studies show that it makes those exposed to it sick. Avoiding noise is, therefore, a primary concern in traffic planning. The good news is that methane-fuelled vehicles are so silent that noise simulators need to be installed in the cabins so the driver knows the engine is on. LNG-fuelled vehicles are so silent, they can enter the most stringent silent zones. That’s perfect for areas where people live but also helps a great deal to reduce the horrors people on transit routes live through every day.
Noise has not been considered pollution just a few decades ago. Together with aesthetics and a coherent urban image, noise is among those parameters that determine the quality of life today. Together with clean air rules, those regulations often prohibit certain vehicles from entering certain zones. And those rules become ever more demanding. Just think of city centers, night curfews for trucks, and transit routes.
LNG vehicles are among the most silent you will ever experience. The gas engine is the most silent Internal Combustion Engine. Most vehicles can enter silent zones almost without additional protection from nasty sounds. It’s mostly the wheels that produce the noise.
In some situations, drivers have installed noise simulators in order to know if the engine is on. Just like with some E-vehicles today. Driving is still visceral.
The Netherlands has one of the most vibrant LNG transport industries. There those vehicles are allowed to enter silent zones at night. A considerable advantage for those that use the night to replenish.