The Sound of Silence: What Disappears From Our Cities When the Engines Go Quiet
Electric vehicles are celebrated for their zero tailpipe emissions, but a less-discussed transformation is already rippling through American cities: the gradual disappearance of traffic noise. Acoustic ecologists, urban planners, and public health researchers are only beginning to understand what this sonic shift means for human wellbeing, wildlife behavior, and the future design of urban space. The findings are striking — and the implications reach far beyond the roadway.