Electric cars could get louder

Electric cars may get louder.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering new laws that would require electric and hybrid cars to make loud noise.

It's an effort to make things safer for pedestrians who may not hear the cars coming.  

It would also meet Congress' mandate in the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act that says those types of vehicles meet minimum sound requirements when they are operating at low speeds.

The sound would need to be loud enough for people to hear it over street noise when the car is going under 18 miles per hour.