Nissan
Designing dream driving experiences for environmentally conscious parents
The Challenge
In the UK, many parents rely on “dream driving,” a method where they drive their children around in the car to lull them to sleep. However, this practice results in significant CO2 emissions, which is at odds with the growing environmental consciousness. With the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), parents faced a new dilemma: while EVs like the Nissan LEAF are zero-emissions, their silence doesn’t provide the familiar noise that helps soothe children to sleep. Nissan approached us to create a “zero-emissions lullaby” that would replicate the calming sounds of a combustion engine without the ecological cost.
The Challenge
In the UK, many parents rely on “dream driving,” a method where they drive their children around in the car to lull them to sleep. However, this practice results in significant CO2 emissions, which is at odds with the growing environmental consciousness. With the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), parents faced a new dilemma: while EVs like the Nissan LEAF are zero-emissions, their silence doesn’t provide the familiar noise that helps soothe children to sleep. Nissan approached us to create a “zero-emissions lullaby” that would replicate the calming sounds of a combustion engine without the ecological cost.
The Solution
Alongside Nissan’s engineers, we identified the differences between EV and combustion vehicles through simulated drives and frequency visualizations. This enabled them to pinpoint what sounds and frequencies send babies and young children to sleep.
A combustion engine creates a complex mix of sound waves, frequencies, and harmonic overtones, generated by the engine sound, tires on the road, and air moving around the car. We developed the Dream Drive album, a collection of five lullabies designed to mimic the sound frequencies of a combustion engine, known for their calming effects on babies and young children. We created a soundscape that combined the frequencies found with the combustion engine blended with white, pink, and brownian noise.
The Solution
Alongside Nissan’s engineers, we identified the differences between EV and combustion vehicles through simulated drives and frequency visualizations. This enabled them to pinpoint what sounds and frequencies send babies and young children to sleep.
A combustion engine creates a complex mix of sound waves, frequencies, and harmonic overtones, generated by the engine sound, tires on the road, and air moving around the car. We developed the Dream Drive album, a collection of five lullabies designed to mimic the sound frequencies of a combustion engine, known for their calming effects on babies and young children. We created a soundscape that combined the frequencies found with the combustion engine blended with white, pink, and brownian noise.
The Outcome
The tracks were integrated with theNissan LEAF’s infotainment system, making them easily accessible via platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Deezer.
The Dream Drive album quickly became a hit, downloaded over 150,000 times. Research showed that the album successfully recreated the soothing effects of combustion engine sounds, providing a guilt-free solution for environmentally conscious parents. Beyond the album, the Nissan LEAF’s features also contributed to a smoother, quieter ride, enhancing the overall experience. This project not only addressed practical challenge for parents but also reinforced Nissan's commitment to sustainable, innovative solutions in the automotive industry.
