As everyone knows, electric cars are very quiet while driving, but the electric motors still can be heard a little bit, they make a nice, soft, high pitch sound, in the background.
My experience with EV's is that this motor sound always is the sound of a very smooth and well balanced turning motor. Nice to hear, not annoying at all.
However, in my i-Pace I hear the front drive unit (motor+reduction box) turning sound as if it is unbalanced, a sound which best can be heard at speeds between 80-96 km/h. Instead of a nice 'whhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr' kind of sound, it sounds more like 'whirrewhirrewhirrewhirrewhirre' - sorry for my effort to fonetically trying to express the sound :-D :-D
It reminds me of a washing machine in centrifuging stage, with a bit of unbalanced load. Not that loud, but the same kind of noise.
When I drive a constant speed of approx. 92km/h it is most clear to hear. When I lift the accellerator just lightly, letting the i-Pace coast a bit, without motor traction and without regenerating, the sound goes away. When I then lightly press the accellerator again, the sound is back again. When I accellerate firmly/fast, the sound also goes away and is replaced by a kind of low frequency buzz, accompanied by light vibrations in steering wheel and pedal.
Who recognises this? Any similar experiences?
The dealer has checked the drive shafts and found no issues. They did a short test drive and say what they hear is normal. However I don't think it is normal, other i-Paces I have driven did not seem to have this.
Also, it only happens after at least 10-15 km after a cold start, as if it only occurs when the transmission/reduction oil has warmed up.
I suspect that the problem is caused in the transmission/reduction part of the front drive unit (EDU). The motor itself seems to be ok, the car drives perfectly for the rest. It is only this annoying sound that takes away a bit of the pleaure and ease.
Maybe the EDU needs to be replaced...?
My experience with EV's is that this motor sound always is the sound of a very smooth and well balanced turning motor. Nice to hear, not annoying at all.
However, in my i-Pace I hear the front drive unit (motor+reduction box) turning sound as if it is unbalanced, a sound which best can be heard at speeds between 80-96 km/h. Instead of a nice 'whhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr' kind of sound, it sounds more like 'whirrewhirrewhirrewhirrewhirre' - sorry for my effort to fonetically trying to express the sound :-D :-D
It reminds me of a washing machine in centrifuging stage, with a bit of unbalanced load. Not that loud, but the same kind of noise.
When I drive a constant speed of approx. 92km/h it is most clear to hear. When I lift the accellerator just lightly, letting the i-Pace coast a bit, without motor traction and without regenerating, the sound goes away. When I then lightly press the accellerator again, the sound is back again. When I accellerate firmly/fast, the sound also goes away and is replaced by a kind of low frequency buzz, accompanied by light vibrations in steering wheel and pedal.
Who recognises this? Any similar experiences?
The dealer has checked the drive shafts and found no issues. They did a short test drive and say what they hear is normal. However I don't think it is normal, other i-Paces I have driven did not seem to have this.
Also, it only happens after at least 10-15 km after a cold start, as if it only occurs when the transmission/reduction oil has warmed up.
I suspect that the problem is caused in the transmission/reduction part of the front drive unit (EDU). The motor itself seems to be ok, the car drives perfectly for the rest. It is only this annoying sound that takes away a bit of the pleaure and ease.
Maybe the EDU needs to be replaced...?