The thrill of every vroom and revving of cars is a must for car-lovers, but ever so often, silence can be golden. This is especially during the time when you’re sitting in a car, and you just want to hear the silent hum of the engine as you cruise along the highway, without the sounds of the road, tyres or engine noises disturbing you. 

But these days, it’s not enough just to minimise the noise in a car; rather you have to eliminate it entirely.

Welcome to the era of noise cancellation in the modern car. The concept is simple; imagine your noise-cancelling headphones, but extended to the entire car. This technology is fairly new in the automotive industry, but it is an ever-developing and expanding technology, so you’ll see it grow to be something used in many cars soon.

But how does it work? If you’re not well-versed in the intricacies of removing noise from something as huge as your car, allow us to try to explain how it works, with a little help from the experts at Bose, famously known as the pioneers of noise cancellation technology. 

The people at Bose have been hard at work developing its in-car technology, known as Engine Harmonic Cancellation or EHC. This technology first appeared in the 2011 Cadillac Escalade and Infiniti M sedan, only found in the United States. 

In simple layman’s terms, the technology utilizes data gathered from the engine and from strategically placed microphones inside the vehicle cabin to minimise undesirable engine and powertrain noise. This then allows the EHC to calculate the appropriate noise cancelling signal, which is delivered through the audio system’s speakers. 

EHC technology is highly targeted and precise, aimed mostly at lower frequencies produced by the engine, which means the typically deeper booming or groaning sounds. The specific targeted frequencies are identified by carmakers to achieve their desired sound characteristics. The technology then targets a narrow band of low-frequency engine noise throughout the much larger space of a vehicle cabin. Engineers can then customise the solution for the unique acoustics of each vehicle.

Generally, the level of noise cancellation on cars allows it to remove the typical road-noise, exhaust sounds and tyre noise, basically, anything that can generate some vibrations. You shouldn’t expect it to be completely silent though, with car horns, other traffic noises, ambient sounds of the outside world and music still able to penetrate the cabin.

The main benefit of noise cancellation is that it reduces driver distraction and can help prevent driver fatigue, as it enables a significant reduction in exposure to low-frequency noises, which can help prevent driver fatigue on longer journeys. Additionally, most manufacturers use technology that is lightweight to ensure a car’s handling characteristics are unaffected.

Of course, how the technology is enacted varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but the basic principles are the same. Currently, this technology is being utilized in several car manufacturers. 

Jaguar Land Rover, for example, calls its system ‘Active Road Noise Cancellation’ and uses sensors on each wheel of the vehicle to monitor road surface vibrations so the appropriate level of cancellation can be played through the car’s sound system. 

Hyundai recently announced its own new-and-improved sound elimination technology, called "Road-Noise Active Noise Control" (RANC), which promises a "nearly silent" cabin by using acceleration sensors to monitor vibration and emitting inverted soundwaves to counteract the incoming noise. 

Honda has also been using the technology in some capacity since the early 2000s – calling its version ‘Active Noise Control’.

Other brands and models also feature similar noise-cancelling systems, though for now the technology is usually found in more expensive models or on flagship variants. As with most technologies, it is expected to trickle down to more affordable models quickly.

So this seems to be the future of technology for our cars. Get ready for a very quiet future. What do you think about this article? Leave a comment below!

If the thought of the future of automotives interests you, you might want to consider exploring a career in automotive, motorsports, and all things related. Check out our various programmes and courses available. At TOC, you’ll be part of one of the best automotive colleges in Malaysia that provides you with the education pathway you need to turn your dream into reality!

If you’d like to know more about the automotive industry or if you’re still unsure whether it would be a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to have a chat with our automotive course counsellors, who would be happy to help you out!