A major investigation in Germany has shed light on long-running concerns that electric cars might expose their occupants to unsafe levels of electromagnetic fields. The research team found that even at peak power demand, the readings stayed far below recognized health limits. Basically, electric cars are on par with trains, trams, and even conventional gasoline cars.
The reasoning isn’t far-fetched. Drivers and passengers in battery-powered cars may be exposed to harmful electromagnetic fields emitted by the battery and the electrical components embedded in the car’s structure.
The phenomenon is called e-smog or electrosmog. Germany’s Federal Office for Radiation Protection commissioned a study to size the effect and to determine, at large, the possible consequences of e-smog in cars for human health.
Nearly a million measurements
The project was carried out jointly by the motorists’ association ADAC, the RWTH Aachen’s research center for electromagnetic compatibility, and Austria’s Seibersdorf laboratories. The examination covered a broad range of vehicles: eleven battery-electric models, two plug-in hybrids, and a gasoline car used as a point of comparison.
The tests were conducted on a test bench, controlled tracks, and ordinary streets. To capture what a driver or passenger might actually experience, the team placed a dummy equipped with 10 sensors throughout each cabin, from the footwell to head height, and recorded data during typical driving situations. In total, the fleet of test vehicles provided 975,000 measurements, an unprecedented scale.
Low-frequency fields
The scientists paid particular attention to low-frequency magnetic fields. These are generated whenever strong electrical currents are drawn through high-voltage cables or power electronics. These tend to occur during heavy acceleration, when a vehicle is recovering energy during braking, or when high-demand systems such as heating are activated.
The researchers found that the highest readings appeared around the feet and lower legs, where cables and inverters are often routed. By contrast, readings around the torso and head were consistently far lower.
Seat heaters
Next to the battery pack and its peripheral equipment, electrical accessories also play their role. Seat heaters, especially those controlled by pulse-based regulators, produced measurable fields close to the body.
These readings varied by model but never rose to levels that would raise medical concern. The study also noted that short spikes appeared when cars were switched on. But this didn’t occur exclusively in the electrified models; it also happened in the combustion-engined car.
To place their findings in context, the team next monitored several public transport systems, including long-distance trains, trams, and underground lines. The levels recorded there were broadly similar to those in electric cars and, depending on proximity to traction motors or power rails, occasionally higher.
The conclusion: electromagnetic fields are an unavoidable byproduct of electrically powered transport, but the strength of these fields in cars is a long way from being hazardous.
Like a tram
Despite the reassuring results, the researchers argue that manufacturers should not treat the issue as settled. Carmakers are urged to treat electromagnetic compatibility as a design priority.
By adjusting cable routing, refining inverter packaging, or improving shielding, they can further reduce the exposure. They also say that European testing rules need updating, as current protocols do not always reflect the brief surges seen during rapid changes in power demand.
For drivers, though, the message is clear. According to this comprehensive analysis, there is no evidence that electric cars pose a health risk from electromagnetic fields. It’s just like taking the tram.
