Key facts
- Some passengers report experiencing severe motion sickness in electric vehicles.
- Experts suggest a sensory mismatch, lack of engine noise, and regenerative braking may cause motion sickness in EVs.
- Research into the link between EVs and motion sickness is still in its early stages.
- XPeng has acknowledged the issue, attributing it to EV engineering.
- Many EV drivers and passengers report no motion sickness issues.
- Strategies to reduce motion sickness include looking out the window and sitting in the front seat.
Some passengers are reporting experiencing significant motion sickness when traveling in electric vehicles (EVs), a phenomenon that some experts believe is linked to the unique engineering of these cars. While many EV drivers and passengers report no issues, a growing number of individuals, like Lola Baird and Mark Quigg's daughter, have experienced heightened nausea and discomfort.
Dr. Irene Di Giulio, a senior lecturer at King's College London, suggests that the lack of familiar auditory cues and vibrations from an engine in EVs might be a contributing factor. Humans have adapted to associate these sounds with movement, and their absence could create a sensory mismatch, a primary cause of motion sickness. Dr. Nicholas Hac, a neurologist specializing in dizziness, has also heard similar accounts from patients who feel more prone to motion sickness in EVs.
Regenerative braking, a process where EVs slow down by converting kinetic energy back into battery power, is another potential culprit. If not managed smoothly, it can lead to harsh deceleration, making passengers feel like they are rocking back and forth, as described by Carolyn Le. Furthermore, the rapid acceleration and deceleration capabilities inherent in EVs, compared to traditional combustion engine cars, can also exacerbate motion sickness.
However, research into this specific link is still in its nascent stages. Dr. Bill Yates from the University of Pittsburgh notes that the current body of research is "pretty sketchy." Many EV owners, including Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, report that motion sickness is not a widespread concern among their members, with some even feeling less sick in EVs than in gasoline-powered cars.
Despite the ongoing research, practical advice is available for those affected. Experts recommend passengers look out of the front window, avoid looking at phones or reading, sit in the front seat if possible, keep their head still, and open windows for fresh air. Prolonged exposure to EVs may also lead to desensitization, as the body adjusts to the different sensory inputs.