Electric vehicles are gaining more and more traction, but many passengers complain of dizziness and nausea while driving. Researchers say the reason is related to the way our brains interpret motion.
Electric vehicles are increasingly taking over the market. In European Union they already make up about 17 percent of new car salesHowever, in addition to advantages such as lower noise and less pollution, there is also a phenomenon that is increasingly being talked about: many passengers feel unwell more often in electric cars than in gasoline or diesel ones.
Social networks are full of such experiences, while scientific studies show that it is not a matter of subjective impressions, but of a real physiological reaction.
The brain is left without the signals it is accustomed to
The key to this problem lies in the way the brain interprets motion. For decades, people have traveled in cars with internal combustion engine, getting used to the sounds, vibrations and increased engine noise.
These signals serve as a warning for accelerating, slowing down, or changing the pace of movement. In electric vehicles, they are much weaker or absent altogether, so the brain is left without the signals it is accustomed to, reports the Telegraph.
Smooth acceleration and regenerative braking confuse the body
Electric vehicles accelerate almost instantly and very quietly, without the gradual increase in noise that a traditional engine produces. At the same time, regenerative braking creates long, smooth decelerations.
Studies published in 2024 show that these prolonged decelerations are one of the main causes of nausea. The body feels the force of the braking, but does not receive a clear signal that it is coming.
Vibrations and screens make the situation worse
Although electric cars are considered smoother in motion, certain vibration patterns, especially at low speeds and in urban traffic, may be more often associated with feelings of nausea.
The situation gets even worse when passengers look the phone or the car’s multimedia screen. At that moment, a conflict is created between the information received by the eye and the signals from the inner ear, which is one of the classic causes of dizziness and nausea.
Why do drivers rarely face this problem?
Interestingly, drivers very rarely feel sick while driving. The reason is simple: they know what will happen next.
Anticipating motion is an important factor in avoiding motion sickness. Passengers, especially those sitting in the back seats, do not have this information and are therefore more susceptible.
How are manufacturers trying to solve the problem?
The automotive industry and researchers are already looking for solutions. Experiments include ambient lighting that follows acceleration and braking, light sound signals or gentle vibrations that warn of changes in movement.
The goal is for the brain to gradually learn new rules of movement and acquire substitutes for the signals it has been accustomed to for decades.
Mixing in electric cars is not considered a technology problem, but rather an adaptation phaseOver time, as the body and brain get used to this new way of traveling, it is expected that this phenomenon will also become less frequent.
However, it is clear that the electric future of transport brings not only peace of mind and less pollution, but also new challenges for the human senses. /Telegraph/
