Originally Posted by
Chris Scott
Yes. Unless they employed very clever technology, the props on the electric one would be nearly as noisy.
It would be theoretically possible to make the props considerably quieter. Props on direct drive piston engines are noisy in large part because they're frequently operating with the prop tips in the transonic range. With electric motors you could have slower turning props, which would be quieter, much like the prop on a PT-6 powered plane is quieter than a less powerful, direct drive piston powerplant.