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PTZE-2021 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2408 (2022) 012018 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2408/1/012018
Electromagnetic field in electric and hybrid cars
D Sztafrowski1 and J Winiarz2
1,2
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology,
Wroclaw, Poland
e-mail: dariusz.sztafrowski@pwr.edu.pl
Abstract. In recent years rapid development of electromobility has been observed and hybrid
and electric cars are becoming more and more popular. Their attractiveness is influenced by the
reduction of exhaust gas emissions thanks to the use of electric drives. However, the use of this
type of drive also raises some concerns, because people using this type of transport are in close
proximity to the vehicle's electrical installation, which generates an electromagnetic field. High
current values, up to several hundred amperes, can be the source of significant values of the
fields affecting the organisms of passengers. In this paper, the authors discuss the results of
several recent studies of the levels of electromagnetic interactions encountered in electrically
powered cars and present the results of their own measurements made on two types of vehicles.
1. Introduction
In recent years, there has been a rapid development of electromobility. Both hybrid and electric cars are
becoming more and more popular. Their attractiveness is influenced by the reduction of exhaust gas
emissions, which is possible thanks to the use of electric drives. However, the use of this type of car
raises some concerns. People using this type of transport are in close proximity to the electrical
installation that generates the electromagnetic field. High current values, up to several hundred amperes,
can be the source of significant values of magnetic fields [1]. The low-frequency magnetic field that
occurs in electric and hybrid cars was classified in 2002 by the International Agency for Research on
Cancer as a potentially carcinogenic agent [2]. There are also several reports of the supposed negative
effects of magnetic fields on humans in contributing to the development of neurodegenerative diseases
such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. However, these reports have not yet been unequivocally proven
[3]. Therefore, research is conducted on materials that may limit the effects of such fields on the human
body [4,5]. An important element in considering safety in cars of this type is also taking into account
people who have implanted electronic devices to stimulate the heart rate. These devices are sensitive to
electromagnetic disturbances that may cause them to operate incorrectly. Research has been carried out
to determine whether electric and hybrid cars are safe in this regard. In one of them, the aim was to
determine whether the electromagnetic fields generated by electric cars could cause the dysfunction of
electronic pacemakers [6] 108 people who had heart devices implanted participated in the study. The
tests were divided into three stages. In the first, the participants of the study were seated in the front seat
and the vehicles were driven on a roller test bench. This made it possible to generate the maximum
intensity of electromagnetic fields. In the second stage, the participants were inside the car while it was
charging. The third stage consisted in the use of the car by the participants under normal conditions of
everyday use - driving on the roads. The electromagnetic field was measured inside and outside the
vehicles and at the charging cables. The study found that passengers were exposed to the highest field
values when loading their cars. The highest measured value was 116.5 µT and occurred in the Tesla 85S
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PTZE-2021 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2408 (2022) 012018 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2408/1/012018
model along the charging cable, in which a current of 32 A flowed during charging. Inside the vehicle,
the intensity of the magnetic induction was in the range of 2.0 - 3.6 µT. During this study, there were
no episodes of implantable device malfunction, and no spontaneous device reprogramming due to
electromagnetic interference. Another study was focused only on hybrid cars [7]. The study involved 30
patients with implanted devices for heart stimulation. The hybrid car used in the study was the Toyota
Prius 2012.
Measurements were made on the front and outer rear seats as well as outside the car.
The highest average value of the magnetic field strength occurred on the right rear seat while driving at
a speed of approx. 50 km / h and amounted to 2.09 A / m. The study showed that the tested hybrid car
model does not generate the value of electromagnetic fields that could interfere with the operation of
devices implanted in the heart. Another study was focused only on static electromagnetic fields [8]. The
authors analyzed the literature, numerical and experimental studies to identify the mechanism and
interference thresholds when exposed to static fields. The tests did not reveal any interference in the
CIED devices resulting from exposure to a static electric field. In the static magnetic field, unintentional
triggers of devices implanted in the heart occurred at magnetic field strengths above
0.8 mT. Reset or reprogramming of CIEDs has rarely occurred.
There is little research into determining the levels of magnetic fields in electric and hybrid
cars. In one of them, the aim was to determine whether the use of vehicles has an influence on the change
in the intensity of magnetic fields in cars [9]. The measurements were made over a period of three years
each year on three different electric cars. The cars were measured while accelerating to
40 km / h and driving at a constant speed of 40 km / h. The study showed that the time lapse did not
affect the levels of magnetic fields while repairs of accident cars in which parts were replaced have a
significant influence. In the first year, the maximum values of magnetic induction reached 0.80 µT
during acceleration, in the front and rear seats. When driving at a constant speed,
the magnetic induction reached 0.18 µT. The maximum magnetic induction measured in the crash car
reached 1.57 µT. In the case of a non-accidental vehicle, the intensity of magnetic induction did not
change significantly. In another study, the intensity of the electromagnetic field was measured during
dynamic city driving in an electric Nissan Leaf car [10]. The cockpit of the car was measured. The
maximum measured value of the magnetic field was 64 µT. None of the measured values in this study
exceeded the limit values.
In the study [11], an electric car was measured and compared with a hybrid car. The vehicles were
measured over a period of 30 minutes in the driver's seat and in the passenger behind the driver's seat
during dynamic city driving. Higher values of magnetic induction were recorded in the electric car.
However, they did not exceed 3 µT. In the hybrid car, the magnetic induction values did not exceed 1.5
µT. In the next study, electromagnetic fields were measured in three electric and one hybrid vehicles
[12]. The highest values of magnetic induction in an electric car were recorded in the Kia e-Soul. This
value was measured while driving in reverse at the height of the driver's feet and was 1.27 µT. In the
hybrid Toyota CH-R, the maximum magnetic induction was 2 µT. The average of the highest readings
did not exceed 1 µT in any of the cars measured.
2. Materials and methods
Table 1. Parameters of the tested vehicles
Car Drive type Electric motor Maximum power Battery type
of electric drive
LEXUS NX Hybrid 4x4 Two permanent magnet Front axle: 105 Lithium - ion
300H 2015r synchronous motors kW
Rear axle: 50 kW
NISSAN Electric drive Permanent magnet 110 kW Lithium - ion
LEAF 2021 on front axle synchronous motor
2
PTZE-2021 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2408 (2022) 012018 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2408/1/012018
3. Test description and its results
The tests were carried out on two cars. One was the hybrid Lexus NX 300H with 4x4drive,
the other was the electric Nissan Leaf with front drive. The measurements were divided into three stages.
First, measurements were taken in car cabins. Measurements were made on all vehicle seats, at three
different heights - feet, abdomen and head. The next step was to measure the car cockpit at the points
indicated in Figure 3. In the first and second stage, the cars were put into various dynamic states, such
as: idling, acceleration 0-50 km / h, driving at a constant speed of 50 km / h, acceleration 50 - 90 km /
h, driving at a constant speed of 90 km / h and braking 90 - 0 km / h. The third step was to determine
the graph of the change in magnetic induction versus time while accelerating the car to 90 km / h and
then braking the vehicle to a complete stop. Figure 1 shows the results of the measurements from the
first stage of the research. On the left side there is a graph showing the average values of the magnetic
field measured in a given place. The maximum mean value was 3.24 µT and occurred in the electric car,
in the rear seat of the middle passenger at head height.
The values that appeared at the level of the feet of the passenger behind the driver in both hybrid and
electric cars were also close to the maximum value. On the right side of Figure 1 there is a graph showing
the maximum measured values of the magnetic induction. The highest maximum value of magnetic
induction was 4.5 µT and occurred in the electric car at the level of the feet of the middle passenger in
the rear. Similar, slightly smaller maximum values were recorded for the entire middle rear seat. In a
hybrid car, the highest measured maximum value was 4.23 µT and occurred at the height of the feet of
the rear passenger behind the front passenger. The rear passenger behind the driver at foot level was
slightly lower, but close to the aforementioned maximum value of magnetic induction.
Figure 1. Graphs of average and maximum values of magnetic induction from measurements made in the
vehicle cabin on the passenger and driver seats
Figure 3 shows the measurement results from the second stage of the research. The car cockpit was
measured at the measurement points shown in Figure 2. On the left side there is a graph showing the
average values of the magnetic field measured in a given place. The highest mean value of the magnetic
induction was 3.9 µT and occurred at point 9, i.e. between the front seats in a hybrid car. The next mean
3
PTZE-2021 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2408 (2022) 012018 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2408/1/012018
values of the magnetic induction that appeared in the hybrid vehicle were slightly higher than 2 µT and
occurred at points 2, 7 and 11. In the electric car, the highest mean value of the magnetic induction
occurred at point 1, i.e. at the left vent. This value was 2.15 µT. On the right side of Figure 3 there is a
graph showing the maximum measured values of magnetic induction at a given point. The highest
maximum value of magnetic induction occurred in the hybrid car in point 9 and amounted to 5.62 µT.
Another, quite high, maximum value in the hybrid car occurred at point 11, i.e. at the right-hand air
supply, and amounted to 4.5 µT. The maximum measured value of the magnetic induction in the electric
car occurred in point 1 and amounted to 2.90 µT. A slightly lower maximum value occurred in step 8
and amounted to 2.40 µT.
Figure 2. The car cockpit with marked measurement points
Figure 3. Graphs of average and maximum values of magnetic induction from measurements made at the
cockpit of vehicles
Figure 4 shows the value of the magnetic induction depending on the speed, measured in the
driver's seat, at the level of the abdomen. The highest value of magnetic induction occurred in an electric
car idling and was 2.42 µT. Another significant value in an electric car is the value of the magnetic
induction that occurred during acceleration of the vehicle from a speed of 50 km / h to
a speed of 90 km / h, it was 1.92 µT. In a hybrid car, at the driver's belly, the highest value was recorded
when braking the car from a speed of 90 km / h to a complete stop. None of the magnetic induction
values exceeded 2.5 µT.
4
PTZE-2021 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2408 (2022) 012018 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2408/1/012018
Figure 5 shows the value of the magnetic induction depending on the speed, measured in the seat of the
middle passenger in the rear, at the level of the abdomen. The highest values of magnetic induction
occurred in the electric car during acceleration. When the car accelerated to 50 km / h, the magnetic
induction reached 4.43 µT. In the hybrid car, the values did not exceed 2.5 µT in any of the tested vehicle
dynamic states. Additionally, it can be seen from the graph that the magnetic induction values in the seat
of the middle passenger in the rear in an electric car are higher than in a hybrid car.
Analyzing both graphs in Figures 4 and 5, it can be seen that in the seat of the middle passenger in the
rear, the magnetic induction values were higher than in the driver's seat.
The intensity of the magnetic induction
depending on speed
4,5
4
3,5
3
B [µT]
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0
0 km/h 0 - 50 km/h 50 km/h 50 - 90 km/h 90 km/h 90 - 0 km/h
Hybrid Lexus NX 300H 2015 Electric Nissan Leaf 2021
Figure 4. Magnetic induction intensity against speed measured in the driver's seat at
abdominal level
The intensity of the magnetic induction
depending on speed
4,5
4
3,5
3
B [µT]
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0
0 km/h 0 - 50 km/h 50 km/h 50 - 90 km/h 90 km/h 90 - 0 km/h
Hybrid Lexus NX 300H 2015 Electric Nissan Leaf 2021
Figure 5. Magnetic induction intensity against speed measured in the middle rear seat at
abdominal level
Figures 6 and 7 show the results of the measurements made in the third stage. Figure 6 shows
a diagram of the magnetic induction depending on the time during acceleration and braking of the
vehicle. The measurement was made at the height of the driver's belly. It can be seen from the graph
that during acceleration, the induction values in both cars were similar. During braking, the hybrid car
achieved higher magnetic induction values than the electric car. Additionally, it can be noticed that the
magnetic induction in the electric car increased in the last seconds of braking, before stopping
completely, while in the electric car it decreased.
Figure 7 shows a diagram of the magnetic induction depending on the time during acceleration and
braking of the vehicle. The measurement was made at the abdomen of the middle rear passenger.
5
PTZE-2021 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2408 (2022) 012018 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2408/1/012018
The induction in the electric car reached higher values only during the final phase of acceleration
and the initial phase of braking. In the remaining periods of time, the hybrid car showed higher values.
Figure 6. Graph of magnetic induction versus time during acceleration and braking of
vehicles. Abdominal measurement in the driver's seat.
Figure 7. Graph of magnetic induction versus time during acceleration and braking of
vehicles. Abdominal measurement in the middle rear passenger seat.
4. Summary
Higher values of the magnetic induction intensity appeared in the rear seats in both cars. At
the level of the feet, the values were higher than at the level of the head, which is due to the distance
from the electrical installation. During the first stage of measurements, the highest value of magnetic
induction recorded in the electric car was 4.5 µT and occurred at the height of the feet of the middle
passenger at the rear. In a hybrid car, the highest recorded value was 4.23 µT and occurred at the level
of the feet of the rear row of seats behind the front passenger. In the second stage of measurements, the
maximum value measured in the electric car was 2.90 µT, and it occurred at the left air supply. In the
hybrid car, the maximum value in the second stage was 5.62 µT and it appeared between the passenger
seats, at the armrest. Higher values of the magnetic induction intensity in a hybrid car may result from
the car's four-wheel drive type, which is associated with having two electric motors, and the car's weight,
which was greater than that of the electric car. The graphs presented in Figures 6 and 7 clearly show that
the magnetic induction increases during acceleration and decreases during vehicle braking.
6
PTZE-2021 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 2408 (2022) 012018 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/2408/1/012018
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