[Electromagnetic fields (EMF) in electric cars]

2023 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 514

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2023

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

[Electromagnetic fields (EMF) in electric cars] My note: I would be interested in seeing an English translation of this report. The exposures reported in the following English-language summary are alarming since the ICNIRP exposure limits are too lax and inadequate to protect our health. Eberhard J, Fröhlich J, Zahner M. [Electromagnetic fields (EMF) in electric cars] Elektromagnetische Felder (EMF) in Elektrofahrzeugen. Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). 2023. Summary More and more battery-powered electric vehicles (e-vehicles) are being put into operation to facilitate the decarbonisation of mobility. Electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (EMF) are generated in and around vehicles by the electrical components of the drive, through battery charging and from other diverse electronic systems used in modern vehicles. In principle, it can be stated from a technical point of view that all vehicles generate immissions of electromagnetic fields, regardless of the type of drive. In addition to the electrical parameters of the components, the design and the materials used are significant. A feature of exposure in vehicles is that passengers may be simultaneously exposed to a large number of sources of various frequencies in a very confined space for hours at a time. One is also in a volume that is (partially) shielded by the car body and window panes coated with vapour-deposited metal. The aim of this project was to assess, through measurements on a selection of e-vehicles, whether the additional EMF immissions from the electric drive and associated components are to be judged critically as a health risk and whether further, more in-depth clarifications are necessary. For this purpose, extensive measurements of the occurring low-frequency and high-frequency EMFs extant under real operating conditions, including the charging process, were carried out on a small selection of series- production passenger vehicles (5 e-vehicles purely electric and battery-powered, 1 diesel-motorised vehicle for comparison) from the stock vehicle market in order to be able to assess the immissions on passengers and persons staying in the vicinity of the vehicle. Since there are currently no specific regulations for EMF in e- vehicles, the field strengths of the measured EMF were classified against internationally established limit recommendations (ICNIRP). The total exhaustions of the limit values thus determined from all sources were rather low, on average in the range of up to 5% for low-frequency magnetic fields and up to approx. 10% for high-frequency EMF. Occasionally, higher peak readings of low-frequency magnetic fields up to approx. 50% of the limit values were found. In general, as is common with magnetic fields in general, these high values are often very localised. Moreover, due to the dynamic and complex situation in vehicles, they often occur only sporadically and, as far as they could be identified, are hardly directly related to the electric drive. The measurement results of the present study are consistent with other previous studies. Wireless power transfer (charging) was not investigated in this project. As far as the results of this study can be generalised, the electric drive with energy drawn from a battery appears to be unproblematic with regard to additional EMF. Regardless of the type of drive, attention must be paid to further technological development, especially with regard to the trend toward increasing networking and digitisation. One outstanding issue remains the insufficient EMF regulation for vehicle interiors. Open access report in German: aramis.admin.ch

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeexposure_assessment

Effect directionno_effect

PopulationNot supplied

Sample size6

Exposurereal operating conditions; passengers may be exposed for hours at a time (general statement)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: unknown

Main findings

Extensive measurements in 5 battery electric passenger vehicles and 1 diesel vehicle found average total "exhaustions" of ICNIRP limit values up to ~5% for low-frequency magnetic fields and up to ~10% for high-frequency EMF. Occasional peak low-frequency magnetic-field readings up to ~50% of ICNIRP limits were observed, described as often localized and sporadic and not clearly directly related to the electric drive; overall, the battery electric drive was described as unproblematic regarding additional EMF.

Outcomes measured

Measured low-frequency EMF (including magnetic fields) in vehicles
Measured high-frequency EMF in vehicles
Comparison of measured field strengths to ICNIRP limit recommendations (percent of limits)
Peak low-frequency magnetic-field readings (percent of limits)
Assessment of whether additional EMF from electric drive/components should be judged critically as a health risk

Limitations

Small selection of vehicles (5 battery electric, 1 diesel comparator)
Wireless power transfer (charging) was not investigated
No specific regulations for EMF in e-vehicles; classification relied on ICNIRP limit recommendations
Generalisability is conditional ("as far as the results ... can be generalised")

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "electric cars (battery electric vehicles) and charging process; diesel vehicle comparator",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "real operating conditions; passengers may be exposed for hours at a time (general statement)"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 6,
  "outcomes": [
    "Measured low-frequency EMF (including magnetic fields) in vehicles",
    "Measured high-frequency EMF in vehicles",
    "Comparison of measured field strengths to ICNIRP limit recommendations (percent of limits)",
    "Peak low-frequency magnetic-field readings (percent of limits)",
    "Assessment of whether additional EMF from electric drive/components should be judged critically as a health risk"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Extensive measurements in 5 battery electric passenger vehicles and 1 diesel vehicle found average total \"exhaustions\" of ICNIRP limit values up to ~5% for low-frequency magnetic fields and up to ~10% for high-frequency EMF. Occasional peak low-frequency magnetic-field readings up to ~50% of ICNIRP limits were observed, described as often localized and sporadic and not clearly directly related to the electric drive; overall, the battery electric drive was described as unproblematic regarding additional EMF.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Small selection of vehicles (5 battery electric, 1 diesel comparator)",
    "Wireless power transfer (charging) was not investigated",
    "No specific regulations for EMF in e-vehicles; classification relied on ICNIRP limit recommendations",
    "Generalisability is conditional (\"as far as the results ... can be generalised\")"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
  "keywords": [
    "electric vehicles",
    "battery electric vehicles",
    "diesel vehicle",
    "vehicle interior",
    "low-frequency magnetic fields",
    "high-frequency EMF",
    "charging process",
    "ICNIRP limits",
    "exposure measurements",
    "Swiss Federal Office of Energy"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Includes measurements relevant to persons staying in the vicinity of the vehicle, but no explicit occupational setting described."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.55,
      "reason": "Measured fields were classified against ICNIRP limit recommendations and reported as percent of ICNIRP limits."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: Not supplied
PubMed: Not supplied

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