An Exploratory Study on Auditory Experience in Electric Vehicles: Understanding User Characteristics and Driving Contexts Through Real-Driving Experiments

ObjectiveThis study investigated how user characteristics and driving context influence auditory experiences (AX) in electric vehicles (EVs), identifying distinct user types and their specific auditory needs and evaluation.BackgroundElectric vehicles (EVs) present unique opportunities for designing auditory experiences (AX) due to their quiet operation characteristics and acoustic vehicle alert systems (AVAS).MethodForty participants conducted real-driving experiments with an EV, experiencing sounds at low, medium, and high speeds. We applied systematic analysis combining topic modeling (BERTopic) and qualitative coding of think-aloud interviews and statistical analysis of questionnaire responses.ResultsFour user types were segmented by attitude (Dynamic vs. Conservative) and car type (EV vs. ICV owners). Text analysis revealed varying frequencies of concerns across user types regarding driving contexts, functional aspects, and affective aspects of AX. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among user types in sporty preferences and perceptions of affective properties (Sporty, Stylish, Comfort, and Calm). Driving contexts significantly influenced perceived Stylish and Calm characteristics.ConclusionThis study provides empirical evidence and design implications for customized AX in EVs design based on user characteristics and driving contexts.ApplicationThe findings can guide the development of personalized AX systems in EVs, enhancing both user satisfaction and safety through context-aware and user-centered design approaches.