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To be honest, I think the noise generated by electric cars (or lack thereof) is largely exaggerated. Given how most of the noise your hear of passing cars is tyre noise. Naturally this is very much speed dependant and an electric car going 5mph is a lot quieter than one with a combustion engine. But an electric car vs a regular one at 20-30mph, I think I'd struggle to tell the difference unless I was looking for it.
I think it’s a given that driverless cars will be safer than cars driven by humans. My biggest concern right now is electric cars being relatively silent in an urban environment and the danger that poses to pedestrians failing to look where they’re going, eyes on their phones etc. A recent well discussed accident in the Old Street area comes to mind.
This is a good read on where tech might be taking us
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/interesting-talk-md-daimler-benz-jonathan-brathwaite