Electric Cars Don’t Fry Your Brain: Scientists Debunk a Persistent Myth

Germany’s ADAC automobile club, together with RWTH Aachen University and the Seibersdorf Laboratories, has completed an extensive study examining electromagnetic exposure inside modern electric vehicles. Commissioned by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection and the German Ministry for the Environment, the project involved more than 975,000 individual measurements.

Testing was carried out on lab benches, test tracks, and public roads using 11 electric cars, 2 hybrids, one gasoline-powered vehicle, and 4 electric motorcycles. The findings were clear: in every case, electromagnetic field levels stayed well below established safety thresholds. Short-term peaks were recorded during acceleration, braking, and when electrical systems were switched on, but even those remained within safe limits.

The highest readings appeared around the driver’s and passenger’s footwells, where high-voltage cables and power components are typically located. However, researchers found no potential health concerns, even for pregnant individuals or those with medical implants.

The study concludes that electric vehicles are safe in terms of electromagnetic exposure. Still, the team recommends that manufacturers continue to refine component layout and electromagnetic shielding in next-generation models arriving around 2026, to keep field levels as low as possible.