This dog loved cruising around the Top Gear test track in an electric vehicle rather than a gas-powered one.

      Volkswagen-owned Škoda asserts it has made a scientific advancement involving a car and a Cocker Spaniel. Collaborating with a celebrity veterinarian using a heart rate monitor, the automaker found that Mango the dog favors electric vehicles over those with internal combustion engines. The company reports that the dog was “more relaxed” in the electric vehicle.

      Although Škodas are not available in the United States, they are quite prevalent in Europe. This Czech brand has been manufacturing cars since 1905.

      The research was conducted with the assistance of Dr. Scott Miller, a veterinarian and television personality from the UK. He took Mango, his Cocker Spaniel, borrowed three new vehicles powered by electricity, gasoline, and diesel, respectively, from Škoda, and visited the former Top Gear test track in England, reaching speeds of up to 70 mph. Dr. Miller observed Mango’s behavior during the drives and recorded his pulse after each session.

      Mango couldn’t provide an interview, but Škoda asserts that the findings are clear. The dog's resting heart rate is 80 beats per minute (bpm). It increased to 100 bpm in the electric vehicle, 120 bpm in the gasoline car, and 125 bpm in the diesel car. The brand claims that the higher values indicate elevated stress levels. How can we be sure that Mango, who seems like a good boy, wasn’t merely excited? Škoda also mentions that Mango "appeared to be more relaxed" in the electric vehicle and almost fell asleep, while he was "more distracted and less settled" in the other vehicles.

      “The experiment clearly illustrates the health and psychological advantages of traveling in an electric vehicle for dogs. Monitoring Mango's reactions while traveling the same speed on the same track in different cars made it evident that the electric vehicle offered a smoother and more calming experience,” concluded Dr. Miller. He also highlighted the “spacious interiors of electric vehicles” as a factor contributing to dogs feeling more at ease in cars.

      Dog behaviorist Anna Webb noted that the quieter electric drivetrain helped maintain Mango’s low stress levels. Since most electric cars lack a transmission, there are no gear shifts, and the motor generates less noise than a traditional engine. She pointed out that dogs typically have hearing that is four times more sensitive than that of humans, enabling them to detect sound frequencies that are inaudible to us, and that engine vibrations can lead to motion sickness.

      Reproducibility, an essential component of the scientific method, was seemingly not considered; Mango was the sole canine participant. It stands to reason that an animal would feel more relaxed in a quieter setting. While measuring heart rate is more empirical than some canine-car evaluations we’ve conducted at The Drive, we may need to survey more dogs to achieve a clear understanding of their preferred powertrains.

      My eight-year-old cat, Kiki, indicates he prefers hydrogen. Bramble, our Canine Correspondent in New York, happily hops into everything from electric vehicles to vintage tractors.

      Škoda has a bit of a history with dog-related marketing initiatives, including creating a “Happy Hounds” Spotify playlist for road trips with dogs and developing dog-specific seatbelts.

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