EV drivers love their cars, but some passengers feel sick - this could be why

Some electric vehicle (EV) passengers are experiencing motion sickness, which can lead to feelings of nausea and vomiting. Lola Baird, a 24-year-old from north London, is one such passenger who started feeling very nauseous after her boyfriend bought an EV two years ago. She has even asked him to change his car due to the severity of her symptoms.

Dr. Irene Di Giulio, a senior lecturer in anatomy and biomechanics at King's College London, suggests that some people experience more severe motion sickness in electric vehicles than in non-electric vehicles. Dr. Nicholas Hac, a neurologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, has also heard from his patients who feel more prone to motion sickness in EVs. He notes that many patients he has seen specifically reference feeling motion sick in electric vehicles.

The reasons behind this phenomenon are still being researched, but several factors may contribute. One possibility is the lack of auditory cues and vibrations from the engine that humans are accustomed to in traditional combustion engine cars. Electric vehicles do not have these cues, which can cause a mismatch in sensory inputs and trigger motion sickness.

Another factor is regenerative braking, which can cause harsh deceleration and create a rocking motion that may make passengers feel unwell. Additionally, electric vehicles can accelerate and decelerate more quickly than traditional cars, potentially contributing to motion sickness as well.