An international study has concluded the electromagnetic radiation produced by the electric motors powering hybrid, plug-in hybrid, all-electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars to be harmless to passengers inside the vehicles.
The EU-funded study, led by Norwegian independent research organization SINTEF, looked at the intensity of magnetic fields in seven electric cars, one hydrogen-powered car, one petrol car, two gasoline-fueled cars and one diesel-fueled car to ascertain whether they exceed the recommended limiting values for human exposure. The measurements were carried out using real cars in both the laboratory and during road tests using a test dummy with sensors located in the head, chest and feet.
“There is a good deal of public concern about exposure to magnetic fields. The subject crops up regularly in the media. With the number of electric-powered vehicles increasing, this project is very relevant,” Kari Schjølberg-Henriksen, a physicist at SINTEF, said.
Researchers found the highest magnetic field values near the floor of the vehicle, close to the battery and when starting the cars. In all cases, however, exposure to magnetic fields was measured to be lower than 20 percent of the limiting value for human exposure recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Exposure at passenger head-height was even lower, at less than 2 percent of the ICNIRP limit.
In the gasoline- and diesel-powered cars, researchers measures exposure levels at approximately 10 percent of the same limiting value.
“There is absolutely no cause for concern. The difference between this research and similar earlier work, is that we have taken into account what contributes to the magnetic fields,” Schjølberg-Henriksen said.
“The rotation of the wheels themselves generates considerable magnetic fields, irrespective of vehicle type,” she added.
The EM-Safety project is the most comprehensive study to date carried out to identify different sources of magnetic fields in electric cars. Nine other European companies and research institutes from seven countries joined SINTEF in working on the project.
