Illustration: Guardian/Charles Desmalice
Electric vehicles (EVs) are swiftly rising in popularity worldwide; in 2024, 22% of new car sales were electric, up from 18% in 2023. Research indicates that an increasing number of people perceive EVs as superior to traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles. Anecdotal experiences on feeling unwell in an electric vehicle’s passenger or rear seat have sparked social media discussions and raised questions among prospective buyers about motion sickness.
Nonetheless, several academic studies provide scientific explanations for why some individuals may experience more sickness in EVs.
“Increased illness in EVs can be attributed to a lack of prior experience, both as drivers and passengers. The brain depends on past experiences in other vehicle types, complicating the estimation of motor skills.”
While EVs are becoming increasingly accepted, conventional gasoline vehicles still hold a strong presence. Drivers have a long-established familiarity with gas cars, enabling them to adapt more readily to specific cues. For instance, a person who has predominantly driven combustion engine cars will anticipate acceleration after the engine revs, which signals a change in speed. In contrast, electric vehicles produce minimal engine noise.
Research has identified connections between certain features of electric vehicles and motion sickness. A study conducted in 2024 found a significant correlation between motion sickness severity and seat vibrations in EVs. Meanwhile, a separate 2020 study revealed that the absence of engine noise may play a critical role in exacerbating feelings of nausea.
“Those accustomed to driving conventional vehicles learn to perceive car movements through cues such as engine revs, vibrations, and torque. Therefore, experiencing an EV for the first time presents a unique movement environment that the brain needs to adapt to,” explains Emond.
Furthermore, regenerative braking technology in EVs, which enables the motor to convert kinetic energy into electricity while slowing down, results in smooth deceleration. This gradual slowing can lead to a higher likelihood of motion sickness.
A piece of 2024 research indicated that this phenomenon may serve as a key trigger for motion sickness in EVs. The authors noted: [“regenerative braking] might direct motion sickness.”
Motion sickness is believed to arise from inconsistencies among varied sensory inputs. The brain receives simultaneous signals from the body, particularly from the inner ear, which maintains balance, alongside visual information. When there’s a conflict between these signals, the brain interprets this “neurological mismatch” as a conflict situation.
“Improved understanding of self-movement is critical for predicting motor skills to mitigate motion sickness. When the estimations of motor skills by the brain vary from actual experiences, this conflict can reach a threshold that triggers symptoms resembling ‘motion sickness,'” states Emond. “If such a conflict continues, it can lead to physiological reactions often associated with motion sickness.”
Predicting vehicle movement is crucial for mitigating motion sickness, which means that drivers are generally less likely to experience such symptoms. They have the foresight of what to expect.
As these vehicles provide fewer cues about upcoming movements, the interaction between predicted and experienced motion may contribute to the heightened incidence of motion sickness in EVs.
“When navigating a new movement environment, the brain must form new habits, lacking any prior experience to guide it. This is akin to how most individuals feel nauseous in zero-gravity contexts,” remarks Emond.
As the adoption of EVs continues to increase, researchers are exploring potential solutions to combat car-related nausea. Various studies propose that motion sickness in autonomous electric vehicles might be alleviated using visual signals, such as interactive displays and ambient lighting, or through vibration cues that enable passengers’ brains to anticipate movement changes, thereby reducing sudden sensations during electric vehicle rides.
Source: www.theguardian.com
