Electric cars underwent independent testing for electromagnetic radiation inside the cabin and near the charging port

A new study brings reassuring news for anyone who has ever wondered about the possible health risks of prolonged exposure directly over a large battery.

What is known

The German automobile club ADAC conducted an in-depth study of electromagnetic fields in electric vehicles and found that drivers and passengers are exposed to very low levels of radiation.

The results show that electric vehicles are no more dangerous than any other modern car, and in some cases, emit even less electromagnetic activity, or "electrosmog," than cars with internal combustion engines.

The study was commissioned by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection of Germany. Eleven electric vehicles were tested along with a couple of hybrids and one gasoline model.

ADAC engineers placed 10 sensors in a dummy and moved it to at least two positions while the cars were driving and charging. They wanted to find out how strong the magnetic fields become in real conditions and whether any of them approach thresholds that scientists consider risky.

During road tests, the team noted several short-term spikes in magnetic field intensity during sharp acceleration and braking or when electrical components were turned on. However, these peaks are not unusual in a car relying on high-voltage circuits and electric motors.

According to ADAC, the electric fields and current densities that would actually occur in the human body under such conditions remained significantly below the recommended limits. In other words, nothing happens inside the cabin that could disturb the cells, nerves, or a pacemaker.

One unexpected finding concerns a feature that many use without thinking. Seat heating creates some of the strongest electromagnetic readings, and this is true not only for electric vehicles but also for hybrids, as well as for the single ICE model in the study.

Charging also made little difference. AC charging created stronger readings near the connector at the start of the session, but these levels also remained within all standards. Despite having more power, fast DC charging was accompanied by less electromagnetic field disturbance than slow AC charging.

Source: ADAC