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Why electric cars may cause motion sickness
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Some passengers report feeling new or worse motion sickness when riding in electric vehicles (EVs). As first reported by BBC, passengers including 24-year-old Lola Baird have described nausea 40 minutes into journeys in an EV her boyfriend bought two years ago. Researchers point to a sensory mismatch driven by quieter motors, stronger regenerative braking and quicker acceleration as plausible mechanisms. The phenomenon is not universal: some drivers and passengers report no problem. UK figures show new zero-emission car registrations rose 40.5% in April–June 2026 versus the same period in 2025, and at the end of June 2026, 5.8% of licensed cars were zero-emission; the sale of new purely petrol or diesel cars is set to be banned from 2030.
They just notice that they're much more likely or prone to be motion sick
Dr Nicholas Hac, neurologist, Northwestern Medicine
Key takeaways
- Researchers and clinicians have heard reports: Dr Irene Di Giulio and Dr Nicholas Hac say some people report stronger motion sickness in EVs; Hac says about two patients a month mention it to him.
- Engineering features identified: Quiet motors, regenerative braking and sharper acceleration are named by experts and by companies such as XPeng as possible contributors to motion sickness in EVs.
- Real-world examples from passengers: Passengers including Lola Baird (24) and Carolyn Le (24) report nausea; Mark Quigg (45) says his nine-year-old daughter went from only getting sick on 600-mile holiday drives to feeling unwell on a 30-minute trip.
- Policy context and scale: Zero-emission car registrations rose 40.5% year-on-year in April–June 2026 and zero-emission vehicles accounted for 5.8% of licensed cars at the end of June 2026.
Table of contents
How sensory mismatch explains motion sickness in EVs
Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals about movement from vision, the inner ear and the body's motion sensors. Dr Nicholas Hac, a neurologist at Northwestern Medicine who treats dizziness and vertigo, says that conflict is the core mechanism behind the reports he sees. He tells patients that an absence of familiar engine noise or a pattern of rapid speed changes can leave the visual and vestibular systems out of step.
Dr Irene Di Giulio, senior lecturer in anatomy and biomechanics at King's College London, points to the quieter cabin of an electric car as one likely factor. Without the auditory and vibratory cues that drivers and passengers have learned to associate with acceleration and deceleration, the body may interpret movement differently and trigger nausea. Dr Bill Yates of the University of Pittsburgh cautions that the evidence base is still limited and calls for controlled studies to measure rates of illness across vehicle types.
Which vehicle behaviours are implicated and why
Three engineering characteristics recur in expert explanations. First, EVs are much quieter at typical speeds, removing a sound cue that humans use to judge motion. Second, regenerative braking can create abrupt decelerations if the driver lifts the accelerator suddenly. Third, electric drivetrains enable faster changes in speed than many combustion engines, increasing transient forces felt by passengers.
Some manufacturers and dealers have acknowledged the issue publicly. Chinese maker XPeng has told customers "it's a fair question, and it's not your imagination," linking the sensation to how EVs are engineered.Industry representatives including Mike Hawes, head of the Society of Motor Manufacturers, note that many models allow drivers to tailor regenerative braking and that software can smooth acceleration to reduce abrupt changes.
Who is most likely to be affected and what passengers can do
Susceptibility to motion sickness varies. Prof John Golding, who has researched the subject at the University of Westminster and with the Royal Navy and RAF, says motion sickness typically peaks between the ages of 8 and 10 and then declines with repeated exposure. Clinicians note that women and children are generally more prone to the condition.
Passengers can reduce symptoms with simple steps recommended by experts: look out of the front window rather than at a phone, sit in the front passenger seat or the middle rear seat to see forward motion, keep the head still using the headrest, recline slightly, open a window for fresh air and regulate breathing. Travel sickness tablets are effective for some people but can cause drowsiness, and gradual desensitisation through repeated journeys can reduce sensitivity over time.
What manufacturers and regulators can do next
Design and software offer practical levers. Prof Cyriel Diels of the Royal College of Art suggests adding auditory cues, subtle seat vibrations or adaptive regenerative braking that reduces sudden deceleration as ways to give passengers clearer motion signals. Some EVs already allow regenerative braking to be turned down or off.
Industry groups are watching the issue. Matt Adams from BEAMA says manufacturers can respond if research identifies the cause. At the same time, the growing scale of EVs — registrations rose 40.5% in April–June 2026 compared with April–June 2025 and 5.8% of licensed cars were zero-emission at the end of June 2026 — means any passenger-experience problem will affect an increasing number of journeys, including short taxi trips and urban errands.
How this could evolve
The case for
- Automakers can limit abrupt torque and braking through software updates and offer user settings to reduce the triggers of sensory mismatch.
- Adding deliberate audio cues or seat haptics would restore an extra motion signal for passengers without hardware redesign.
- If controlled studies confirm causes, targeted fixes could be rolled out across models and reduce complaints.
The case against
- Published evidence is sparse, so industry responses may be slow or inconsistent across manufacturers.
- Widespread EV adoption (40.5% rise in new registrations in April–June 2026) increases the absolute number of affected passengers unless mitigations are adopted.
- Some fixes could be limited by vehicle architecture or by consumer uptake of optional settings.
What to be careful about
- Passenger discomfort in taxis and shared mobility could harm user experience for short urban trips, illustrated by multiple accounts including a 5-minute lift that made a passenger feel "horrific".
- Insufficient research funding or slow publication of peer‑reviewed trials would delay evidence-based software or hardware changes.
- Default vehicle settings that prioritise efficiency or single‑driver preference could leave passengers exposed unless manufacturers make mitigation features easy to access.
The bottom line
Reports from passengers and clinicians suggest that electric cars can increase motion sickness for some people because of sensory mismatch created by quieter cabins, regenerative braking and rapid acceleration. The evidence remains early and largely anecdotal, and experts including Dr Bill Yates call for controlled studies. Meanwhile passengers have practical options—seat choice, visual focus, head support, ventilation and medication—and manufacturers can reduce triggers through adjustable regenerative braking, smoother torque control and added in‑car cues. With zero‑emission registrations rising rapidly (40.5% in April–June 2026) and 5.8% of licensed cars zero‑emission at the end of June 2026, understanding and mitigating passenger discomfort should be part of EV rollout planning.
What to watch
- Watch for peer‑reviewed studies that quantify motion sickness rates in EVs compared with combustion cars; no date has been set.
- Watch for automaker software updates or model changes that add adaptive regenerative braking or passenger cues; no date has been set.
- Watch for any guidance from transport regulators or city taxi licensing bodies on passenger comfort in EVs; no date has been set.
Frequently asked questions
Do electric cars actually make more people motion sick?
Experts including Dr Irene Di Giulio and Dr Nicholas Hac say some passengers report worse symptoms in EVs, but Dr Bill Yates calls the evidence "pretty sketchy" and controlled studies remain limited; Hac reports about two patients a month specifically reference EVs in his clinic.
What in an EV causes the nausea?
The leading explanations are quieter cabins that remove sound cues, regenerative braking that can produce abrupt decelerations, and faster torque changes; XPeng has publicly acknowledged those engineering side effects as plausible contributors.
What can passengers do to reduce symptoms?
Look out of the front window, sit front or in the middle rear seat, keep your head still against the headrest, open a window for fresh air and consider travel sickness tablets (which can cause drowsiness); Prof John Golding notes motion sickness typically peaks between the ages of 8 and 10 and can decline with repeated exposure.
Related reading
This article is information, not medical advice. Anyone acting on it should speak to a qualified professional.