Renault Takes on Poor Road Conditions

Starting from the assumption that 80% of a car’s noise is generated by its contact with the road, Renault has decided to tackle the issue with the Apache program.

What’s the point of spending millions of euros to reduce rolling noises and aerodynamic whistling in new Renaults if poorly maintained roads undermine these efforts? Coming to the aid of public authorities, or perhaps giving them a lesson, you will decide, Renault Group has developed the Apache program, which maps the state of the roads to identify the areas where renovations would be most beneficial. In terms of noise pollution, of course, but also for economic and public health reasons, as everything is closely linked.

Air pollution is a global emergency that the automotive industry is trying to address as best as possible. The electric transition is indeed a real revolution in this regard. However, noise pollution, much less publicized, is also a significant societal and environmental problem. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), 20 million Europeans complain about noise and 8 million sleep poorly. To combat noise pollution inside vehicles, manufacturers are increasingly using active sound control technology. Sound sensors placed around the vehicle record the annoying noises and inject a sound wave into the cabin that neutralizes them. Noise-canceling headphones work on the same principle. But Renault has decided to go further. The data recorded by the sensors are compiled to provide a very precise analysis of where the road is degraded and therefore noisy. Transmitted to public authorities, they should enable them to act more effectively. At the very least, they won’t be able to say “we didn’t know!” Thank you, Apache.

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