Science Finally Clarifies Why Individuals Experience Increased Carsickness in Electric Vehicles.

      Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

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      One of the primary aspects of the EV experience that stands out is its smoothness compared to traditional internal-combustion vehicles, which are known for their vibrations and noise. You might think that these traits would make EVs more comfortable for passengers prone to motion sickness, but research indicates that the opposite is true. Electric vehicles can intensify feelings of motion sickness in passengers, and science explains why.

      This can largely be attributed to the fact that drivers rarely experience carsickness themselves. When you’re behind the wheel, you can anticipate how the vehicle will respond as you control the gas, brakes, and steering. Passengers, on the other hand, lack this knowledge and can only speculate. This disconnect between expectation and physical experience is central to the cause of motion sickness.

      Now, think about an electric vehicle. The traditional audio and kinetic signals that have characterized cars for over a century are now absent. There is no rumbling engine to indicate movement, and in many models, the driver can slow down without pressing the brake pedal, as the car automatically does so when the acceleration stops. Passengers have even fewer clues to instinctively rely on, which can lead to discomfort, as William Emond, a PhD student at France’s Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard, explained to The Guardian.

      Emond points out, “When we are used to traveling in non-EVs, we understand the car’s motion through signals like engine sounds, vibrations, torque, etc. However, experiencing an EV for the first time presents a new motion environment for the brain, which requires adaptation.”

      He encapsulates the issue by noting that the brain lacks “accuracy in estimating the motion forces” of EVs when compared to gas vehicles. This was supported by two studies mentioned in The Guardian: one from 2020 that linked the silence of EVs to heightened carsickness, and another from 2024 that connected seat vibrations to the issue.

      Regenerative braking also plays a role, as “low-frequency deceleration,” instead of abrupt braking, has been associated with increased motion sickness. This might be somewhat surprising, as one might expect that a slower, more gradual movement would cause less discomfort for passengers. Though I’m not an expert, I would surmise that the transition from sharp acceleration to a relatively abrupt deceleration—without a coasting phase, like what most EVs default to in one-pedal driving—contributes to this problem. This sequence contradicts our expectations developed from years of riding in gas-powered cars.

      As EVs become more prevalent in the market, it will be intriguing to see if motion sickness becomes less common, given that we’ll all gain more experience with them. Consider children in the decades ahead, who may have little to no exposure to combustion-powered cars; perhaps they will have a better experience than we do today. Nevertheless, it’s possible that a larger number of individuals in the future could still be susceptible to carsickness in an all-EV world, compared to the all-ICE environment we grew up in. So many questions remain, and the only way to find answers is through time.

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