Effects of low-level electric vehicle noise on attention, electrodermal activity, workload, and annoyance

Journal article, 2026

With the rise of electromobility, electric vehicles (EVs) and their acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS) are becoming a part of urban acoustic environments. While AVAS signals are designed to enhance traffic safety, their environmental noise impact on non-involved listeners has yet to be systematically studied. This study investigates the effects of low-level indoor EV noise, including three common AVAS types, on attention, electrodermal activity (EDA), perceived workload, and noise annoyance. Sixty participants completed a combined Eriksen Flanker and spatial Stroop attention test under four sound conditions (silence, noise AVAS, multi-tone AVAS, and two-tone AVAS) while EDA was continuously recorded. All signals were presented at realistic indoor levels (⁠LA,eq ≤ 21.5 dB), simulating closed-window exposure in modern buildings using a wave field synthesis-based auralization approach. While attention performance was unaffected, physiological and subjective responses varied significantly across conditions, with the two-tone AVAS resulting in the highest EDA, mental demand, and annoyance ratings. These findings suggest that highly tonal AVAS signals, despite potential benefits for detectability, may impose a greater perceptual and physiological burden on non-involved listeners such as residents. The results highlight the need for AVAS designs that strike a balance between safety and minimal disruption to the surrounding acoustic environment.