The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification mandating the installation of Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) in all electric vehicles classified under M and N categories. In simple terms, the quiet electric vehicle will soon make a soft sound to alert pedestrians nearby.

What is AVAS and why does it matter?

An Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) emits a gentle sound when electric or hybrid vehicles are moving at low speeds. Unlike petrol or diesel vehicles that naturally produce engine noise, electric vehicles are almost silent, making them harder for pedestrians—especially children, the elderly, and visually impaired individuals—to detect. This raises the risk of accidents.

AVAS bridges that gap by alerting people in the vehicle’s path.

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