Opel Ampera
The main source of noise in a car is the engine. With an electric car there is no engine noise and car manufacturers put some extra effort in making the interior of the car as quiet as possible. So much that the Ampera is almost as quiet as the C6 after deadening.
The Ampera has an electric range of 40 to 80km on one charge, after that a 1.4 liter petrol engine extends the range up to 500km.
In electric only mode is whisper quiet, only with some wind and rolling noise present. The petrol engine is only intrusive when accelerating hard. A very good start to what could be my quietest car so far.
Reducing noise with soft fabric on plastic trim
The armrest console on the Ampera is just plastic and a rubber piece on the bottom. With some soft fabric the items inside no longer hit plastic, avoiding any rattles.
Front wheel wells with MLV
Half a decibel reduction at both 80km/h and 120km/h doesn't seem much, but the car is very quiet already. MLV is the way to go on front wheel wells for sound deadening.
Understanding how different type of roads impact noise levels
Measuring noise levels and listening for squeaks and rattles really depends on the type of road you are one. Driving on a badly paved road will increase cabin noise.
Revisiting the front doors again
Since the MLV was not covering the entire door and I still had some Dynamat Extreme and Dodo Super Liner I went for almost full coverage of the outer door skin
Taking care of the floor to reduce rolling noise
Deadening the floor made a huge difference in reducing rolling noise and floor vibrations. Not only does the Ampera sound quieter, it also feels more comfortable to ride in.
Deadening on the roof
Blocking wind noise and heat. The Ampera is now as silent at 120km/h as a stock Ampera at 80km/h. A great result, now under 60dB at 120km/h.
Rear hatch door
The rear hatch on the Ampera / Volt doesn't have much space for deadening. Still I tried to reduce noise from the rain and block heat from the summer sun.
Boot and floor under the rear seats
The boot (or trunk) is the noisiest area in a car, especially in an hatchback like the Ampera. So I added Dynamat Extreme, Dodo Super Liner and Dodo Barrier MLV for a 1dB noise reduction.
Deadening on the pillars
Deadening the A, B and C pillars of a car is getting trickier with all the airbags and electric cables. Space is at a premium in modern cars on these areas.
Rear doors and front doors revisited
Just like the front doors, the rear doors got the deadening treatment with Dynamat and Dodo MLV. I also revisited the front doors to add Dodo Super Liner to improve sound quality.
Front doors with MLV
Dynamat, Dodo MLV and Super Liner were added to the front doors of the Ampera and it is now very quiet in traffic and at speed on the highway. The doors feel solid and close with a satisfying thump.
Reducing noise with the VoltShelf
Noise reduction isn't limited to adding Dynamat or other type of materials. Sometimes creating barriers with something as simple as a parcel shelf will also have some effect in making the interior of the car quieter.
Engine compartment
Deadening the engine compartment, where else would you start on an electric car, right?
Deadening an electric car
The Ampera is already very quiet as is. Being an electric car brings new challenges on what to deaden and what methods and products to use.