Why Electric Vehicles May Be Causing Motion Sickness for Some Passengers

While electric vehicle owners frequently praise the driving experience, a growing number of passengers are reporting debilitating motion sickness, prompting experts to investigate the link between EVs and travel-related nausea.

Lola Baird, a 24-year-old from north London, says her symptoms began after her boyfriend purchased an electric car two years ago. What started as mild discomfort escalated to severe nausea and vomiting during long journeys, leading her to ask him to consider switching vehicles. She is not an isolated case; several individuals have reported similar experiences to BBC News, although many EV drivers note no such issues.

Medical professionals acknowledge the phenomenon. Dr. Irene Di Giulio, a senior lecturer in anatomy and biomechanics at King’s College London, notes that existing research indicates some individuals experience more intense motion sickness in electric cars compared to traditional internal combustion vehicles. Similarly, Dr. Nicholas Hac, a neurologist at Northwestern Medicine, reports hearing from patients regularly. “I’ve heard about it many, many, many times,” Dr. Hac said, estimating that approximately two patients per month specifically cite electric vehicles as the trigger for their symptoms.

However, the scientific community cautions that evidence is still developing. Dr. Bill Yates from the University of Pittsburgh describes the current body of research as “pretty sketchy,” noting a lack of extensive, rigorous studies to confirm a definitive causal link.

Personal Accounts of Discomfort

Mark Quigg, a 45-year-old from Lincolnshire, found his new electric vehicle wonderful to drive due to its quietness, but noticed a drastic change in his nine-year-old daughter’s condition. Previously, she only suffered from motion sickness on long trips to France, but now even a 30-minute drive to the nearest city induces illness. On one recent occasion, she vomited for the first time during a short journey.

Conversely, Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, an association for EV drivers, stated that motion sickness has never been raised as an issue among her members. She suggested that if problems exist, they may stem from driving style rather than the vehicle itself. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturer XPeng has publicly acknowledged the issue, attributing it to the engineering characteristics of electric cars, such as how they handle acceleration and braking.

The Science Behind the Symptoms

Motion sickness is fundamentally caused by a mismatch in sensory inputs. Dr. Hac explains that the brain relies on visual cues, the inner ear’s balance system, and bodily sensations to perceive movement. When these signals conflict, such as when a passenger looks at a phone while the body feels motion, sickness occurs.

Several factors unique to electric vehicles may exacerbate this sensory conflict:

• Absence of Auditory Cues: Humans are accustomed to associating engine noise and vibration with movement. The silence of EVs removes these indicators, potentially confusing the brain about the car’s speed and direction.
• Regenerative Braking: This technology recaptures energy when the driver lifts off the accelerator, causing the car to slow down automatically. If not managed smoothly, it can create a jerky, rocking sensation that triggers nausea.
• Rapid Acceleration: EVs can accelerate and decelerate much faster than conventional cars, which may overwhelm passengers’ vestibular systems.

Carolyn Le, 24, from California, attributes her severe sickness to regenerative braking in urban traffic. “It constantly feels like the car is stopping all the time,” she said, describing the experience as “horrendous.”

Prevalence and Mitigation

Motion sickness disproportionately affects women and children, with symptoms typically peaking between ages eight and 10 before decreasing with exposure. With zero-emission vehicle registrations in the UK rising by 40.5% in the second quarter of 2026, and comprising 5.8% of all licensed cars by June, avoidance is becoming increasingly difficult for sensitive passengers.

Experts offer several strategies to reduce discomfort:

• Look out the front window rather than at phones or books.
• Sit in the front passenger seat or the middle of the back row to maintain visual forward reference.
• Keep the head still against the headrest and recline the seat.
• Open windows for fresh air and ensure adequate hydration and sleep before travel.

Professor John Golding, who has researched motion sickness for decades, suggests that prolonged exposure can lead to desensitization, meaning passengers may grow accustomed to EVs over time.

Looking ahead, Professor Cyriel Diels of the Royal College of Art believes manufacturers can further alleviate symptoms through design improvements, such as software that smooths acceleration, synthetic engine sounds, and adaptive regenerative braking systems that minimize sudden deceleration. For now, however, some passengers like Lola Baird remain hopeful that technological or behavioral adjustments will soon resolve the issue.