EV Range-Enhancing Speakers Sound Too Good To Be True

• A British audio speaker company claims its in-vehicle sound technology can boost range for electric vehicles with lighter weight and less energy consumption.
• The “electrostatic speakers” can apparently create “personal bubbles” in the cabin, minimizing noise overlap.
• Reports suggest they will debut in a production EV this year, with rumors of that being the all-electric Range Rover.

Automakers across the globe are constantly searching for ways to increase the range of their electric vehicles. Some solutions, like high-density battery packs, efficient motors, and aerodynamic designs, are proven. However, one British company claims it has a novel, out-of-the-box solution to potentially make your EV go further.

That solution is, erm… energy-efficient speakers.

British firm Warwick Acoustics says its sound technology can boost EV range by as much as 20 miles compared to traditional audio systems. The range increase stems from lightweight “electrostatic speakers,” The Independent first reported on Thursday. It has installed these speakers in a prototype Polestar 2, claiming to offer 90% weight savings, 90% less energy consumption and 100% recyclability. That would of course be subject to variables like battery size and vehicle weight.

Photo by: Warwick Acoustics

The speakers are claimed to be super thin, so packaging is relatively simple and effective. The company claims the speakers will debut in a production vehicle this year, with the news outlet reporting rumors of that being the new all-electric Range Rover.

Warwick Acoustics explains in a blog that electrostatic speakers generate sound using an electrically charged, super-thin diaphragm suspended between two metal plates. When an audio signal is applied, it creates an electrostatic field that moves the diaphragm, producing sound waves. At least theoretically, it claims to offer better clarity and low distortion.

Photo by: Warwick Acoustics

By comparison, traditional speakers use coils and magnetic fields to generate sound, which, according to the company, have too much mass and too many moving parts, and they cause distortion.

When installed into a headrest, traditional speakers have limitations regarding frequencies and the amount of area they can cover, the company says. “With an electrostatic speaker, it is possible to shape the diaphragm to cover the entire headrest area,” which helps “each passenger get a perfectly balanced audio zone, where moving your head doesn’t mean a sudden audio fade-out.”

Photo by: Warwick Acoustics

This can help create “personal bubbles” for occupants without “overlapping noise.” So, if the driver has to answer a call, passengers at the back can continue enjoying the music. And presumably, occupants won’t have to fight over different tastes in music or volume levels.

Automakers have been razor-focused on making EVs efficient by reducing unnecessary components, using fewer parts, giga-casting large portions of the underbody and taking a Tesla-like approach of simplifying manufacturing as much as possible, all in the interest of improving range and efficiency. Now new quirky solutions from suppliers are surfacing, too. But rest assured that your favorite sound systems aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

That said, if the electrostatic speakers ever make it into the electric Range Rover as rumored, we’ll certainly review it to see if it can hold its own against the heavyweights of premium audio like Meridian, Burmester, Bose and more.

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