Why Some Passengers Feel Nauseous in Electric Cars
While electric car drivers have praised their vehicles for quiet, smooth driving, a growing number of passengers report feeling nauseous on rides. The phenomenon first drew attention when a 24‑year‑old woman from north London, Lola Baird, told news outlets that after her boyfriend bought an electric car she began vomiting on journeys that were previously uneventful.
People of all ages have shared similar experiences. One father said his nine‑year‑old daughter, who was only mildly affected on long trips in petrol cars, cramps up and sometimes vomits on a short drive in an EV. Other parents report discomfort in their children, while some travellers find they feel less sick in electric vehicles.
Dr Irene Di Giulio, a senior lecturer in anatomy and biomechanics at King’s College London, says early studies hint that electric vehicles may trigger motion sickness more often than conventional cars. Likewise, neurologist Dr Nicholas Hac, who treats dizziness and vertigo at Northwestern Medicine, reports several patients notice more “motion sickness” when riding in EVs.
What could be at work? Motion sickness arises when the body receives conflicting signals about movement—from what we see, what our inner ear senses and what our limbs feel. EVs lack the engine noise and vibration that many people rely on to interpret motion. Dr Di Giulio explains that the sudden silence and the different feel of acceleration can confuse the nervous system, especially when the driver uses regenerative braking to recapture energy—an action that can create a sharp drop in speed if not managed smoothly.
Other possible factors include the higher acceleration and deceleration of many EVs, and even differences in interior quietness that can make children and women—who are generally more susceptible—feel more disorientated. Prof John Golding, who has studied motion sickness for decades, notes that symptoms typically peak between ages eight and ten and fade with exposure, suggesting that adaptation is possible over time.
Manufacturers are taking note. The Royal College of Art’s Prof Cyriel Diels has suggested adding software that smooths acceleration spikes, subtle sound systems that provide gentle motor noises and adaptive regenerative braking. Companies such as XPeng, a Chinese EV maker, have publicly acknowledged the issue and attribute it to “side‑effects of how electric cars are engineered.”
In the meantime, passengers can try a set of simple steps that may ease symptoms: look out the windows, avoid reading or scrolling on a phone, sit in the front seat or, if necessary, in the middle back seat, keep the head steady, and open the window if possible. Maintaining good hydration, rest and a light meal before long journeys can also help.
As EVs become a larger share of UK traffic—crossing a 40.5 % increase in new zero‑emission cars from April to June 2026—carmakers and authorities are likely to investigate this issue further. The goal is to make electric driving as comfortable for passengers as it has become for drivers.
For now, experts call for more rigorous studies to pinpoint which vehicle and user characteristics drive the problem and to guide future design solutions.
