Why do electric cars sound so unique?

Brains On! Science podcast for kids

Brains On Universe

Kids & Family, Education For Kids

4.4 • 13.5K Ratings

🗓️ 28 October 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

You may have noticed that electric cars sound different from gas powered cars. The engine doesn’t rumble; instead, it might sound like a hum or even a song. Why is that? Ride along as we learn how electric cars work and why there is so much shush in their woosh. Plus, Molly and co-host Asher interview Jay Kapadia, a sound designer who programs the special noises of electric cars for General Motors. And speaking of special noises, we’ve got a car sounds game show plus a new Mystery Sound!

Guest: Jay Kapadia, Creative Sound Director of General Motors

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Lemonada. You're listening to Brains-On while we're serious about being curious.
0:12.2	Hi there, Brains-on, friends. Today's episode started when a listener noticed something odd. Maybe you've
0:18.7	noticed it, too. Some cars on the road aren't rumbling or rooming.
0:23.5	They're humming, almost like they're making music. These are electric cars or EVs, and we're
0:30.9	going to meet someone who gives them their signature sounds.
0:34.1	Designing EV sounds for me is like being a DJ, you know, a composer and a wizard all at once.
0:41.3	Plus, an electric car game show where our co-host Asher solves puzzles with the power of sound.
0:48.3	So, buckle up.
0:54.8	Hey- Tom!
0:59.2	Oh, hey, Molly.
1:01.1	What's better than a bowl of noodles and cottage cheese?
1:04.6	Excuse me, that's my favorite snack.
1:06.6	There's nothing better.
1:07.8	Yeah, but what about listening to podcasts without the ads?
1:11.5	Oh, you're talking about our Smarty Pass,
1:13.8	where people can listen to uninterrupted episodes of Brains-On and all the shows in Brains-on universe.
1:19.0	Yeah, way better than noodles and cottage cheese, am I right?
1:23.3	Well, I think they're both kind of tied for the best thing ever.
1:26.8	Fair point.
1:27.9	Why don't you tell people where they can get it?
1:29.8	Sure.
1:30.4	Any local grocery store should have lots of noodle choices.
	...

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