GM Authority has a new article out about the Hummer's Bose Vehicle Sound Enhancement Technology. It's interesting how it changes in the different driving modes.
Masking the undesirable noises produced by an electric powertrain.
gmauthority.com
We’ve written extensively about the GMC Hummer EV Pickup’s long list of cool features, from its go-anywhere Extract Mode to its impressive removable glass Infinity Roof and much more, but we have yet to turn much attention to the vehicle’s rather unique Bose-developed Electric Vehicle Sound Enhancement (EVSE) technology – until now.
Bose says the Hummer EV’s unique EVSE technology was engineered “to replace the mostly silent interior that comes with operating an electric vehicle.” The company says the EVSE system sends unique “propulsion sounds,” into the cabin through its standard Bose stereo system to help mask “undesirable noise produced by the electric propulsion system.”
In normal driving scenarios, the noise generated by the EVSE is subtle and provides a layer of texture to the sound produced by the electric motors and road/wind noise, Bose says. If the vehicle is in Terrain Mode, a heavier bass tone will be introduced, with this sound gradually increasing in volume based on the vehicle’s torque delivery. If the vehicle is switched into Off-Road Mode, the EVSE will emit an even deeper rumble by way of the subwoofer as it moves across loose surfaces like dirt, gravel and sand.
EVSE is worked the hardest when the GMC Hummer EV Pickup is put in its acceleration-focused Watts to Freedom mode, which unlocks the full capability of the powertrain and enables the vehicle to hustle from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat. In Watts To Freedom mode, as the vehicle gears up for launch, the EVSE will play a mix of guitar riffs and other audible feedback to gradually build anticipation. At the same time, the vehicle uses its adaptive air suspension to lower its ride height and center of gravity. The sound then suddenly shifts, indicating the vehicle is ready to unleash all 1,000 horsepower from its three electric motors.
“The GMC Hummer EV offers sensory excitement along with incredible on- and off-road performance,” Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer for GMC Hummer EV, said in a statement. “The sense of sound is an important element, and we looked to our longtime partners at Bose for expertise in helping us balance the appropriate level of acoustic precision with driver input, yet not compromising the enjoyment of a near-silent EV experience.”
This system leverages the GMC Hummer EV Pickup Edition 1’s standard 14-speaker Bose audio system, which includes large 6×9-inch wide-range woofers in each of the front doors and a large subwoofer box positioned underneath the rear seats.