Magnetic fields in electric and hybrid cars: Facts, figures and health implications.

Here is another reason why not to buy an electric car or a hybrid

Many people who are sceptical about electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrids point to issues such as battery disposal, rare earth mining, charging infrastructure, range anxiety and cost. However recent publicity has drawn attention to a different concern: magnetic fields inside electric and hybrid cars and whether they could pose a health risk.

Some commentators claim that studies show cabin magnetic fields of several microtesla, far above levels linked in older research with childhood leukaemia, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS and miscarriage and that this is a reason to steer clear of EVs or hybrids altogether.

This article examines what the latest evidence from the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS) in Germany and other scientific research says about magnetic and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in EVs and hybrids, how those figures compare with known exposure limits and health-risk thresholds, and whether the claim that one should “never buy an electric or hybrid car” on this basis stands up to scrutiny.

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What was measured, and by whom

In early 2025 the German federal radiation protection authority, the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS), published a study titled “Determination of exposures to electromagnetic fields of electromobility. Results report – Part 1”. The study investigated a sample of fourteen cars: eleven purely electric vehicles, two plug-in hybrids and one internal combustion engine vehicle (ICE).

Measurements were taken at vehicle seats during different operating states on roller test benches, on a test track and in real traffic conditions. The results showed that all analysed vehicles complied with the recommendation values for protection against short-term (acute) magnetic field exposure according to the 2010 guidelines of the International Commission on Non‑Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The BfS emphasised that while comparatively strong magnetic fields were detected in some cases, “according to current scientific knowledge no health-relevant effects are to be expected”.

Another independent overview of scientific studies notes that vehicles with electrified drive systems may show higher magnetic flux density than conventional vehicles under certain circumstances. JRC Publications

What are the claimed problem figures?

Some online claims assert that during normal driving the cabin fields in EVs or hybrids can be around 2-10.5 µT (microtesla), approx. 25 times higher than reference levels for risk, and that during acceleration/braking the levels may spike to 90-900 µT, and when parked with systems running about 100 µT.

A close reading shows that these numbers appear to be based on an interpretation of a draft summary from the BfS study or secondary commentary rather than direct quotations from the BfS press-release. For instance, one page summarising the study states: “Under more dynamic driving … field levels rose past 90 µT (9000 mG)” and “during cruising at constant speeds … ranged from 2-10.5 µT (20-105 mG)”.

However, crucially the BfS press release itself states that the vehicles analysed fell below the usual threshold limits, with no harmful levels identified. Moreover, the BfS release cautions that the highest values occurred for short durations and in parts of the body (e.g., foot-area) rather than in the torso/head region.

Thus the alarmist claim that cabin exposure is 25 times higher than risk reference levels and that it spikes to 900 µT appears to over-interpret the data, using older guideline thresholds and applying them to peak rather than average exposures.

What do we know about magnetic-field safety and exposure thresholds?

Magnetic fields are measured in tesla (T) or microtesla (µT = one-millionth of a tesla). Many epidemiological studies have looked at extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (for example 50 Hz power lines) and suggested associations between residential exposure of ~0.3-0.4 µT and outcomes such as childhood leukaemia.

However these studies are observational and cannot establish causation. The ICNIRP 2010 guidelines for public exposure to time-varying magnetic fields (1 Hz to 100 kHz) set reference levels based on avoiding acute (short-term) effects such as nerve stimulation, not long-term disease risk. The BfS study found that the vehicles complied with these acute exposure limits.

On the other hand, the researchers and others note that knowledge gaps remain for long-term (chronic) exposure, repeated peaks and exposures in specific body parts. The Japanese study published in 2025 observed that fields in EVs/HEVs were below ICNIRP reference levels but emphasised the need for careful risk communication regarding concerns.

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What exactly did the BfS study find?

Key findings:

The strongest magnetic fields were generally detected near the foot-area in front of the front seats. The head and torso areas typically showed much lower fields.
There was no consistent correlation between vehicle drive type (electric/hybrid vs conventional) and cabin field strength. Driving style (i.e., acceleration/braking) exerted stronger influence.
Short-term peaks occurred during events such as pressing the brake (in vehicles with energy recovery) or switching on heavy components. However, these peaks lasted less than a second.
Even under demanding conditions no vehicle exceeded the ICNIRP 2010 acute exposure limits.
The study did not make conclusions about long-term health outcomes from chronic exposure.

Thus while magnetic fields are measurable and vary with vehicle design and driving behaviour, the official assessment by a national authority was that they do not constitute a health-relevant risk based on current knowledge.

Does this justify refusing to buy an EV or hybrid?

If one’s stance is: “I will never buy an EV or hybrid because of high cabin magnetic fields and associated health risks,” then the claim rests on three linked assumptions: (1) cabin magnetic fields in EVs/hybrids are significantly higher than in conventional vehicles; (2) that such elevated exposures are sufficient to cause disease; and (3) that safer alternatives (conventional ICE vehicles) present lower exposure.

Examining each:

Higher fields in EVs/hybrids? The BfS study shows variation among vehicles and that although EVs/hybrids may show higher fields in some places and conditions they are not necessarily higher than conventional vehicles. Indeed, the measured sample included an ICE vehicle and results indicated that field strength depends more on component location, cable routing, drivesystem architecture and driving style than solely on drive type.
Disease-causing exposure? To date the epidemiological evidence linking ELF magnetic fields and health outcomes remains limited, especially for typical exposure levels in vehicles. While residential exposures above ~0.3-0.4 µT have been associated with childhood leukaemia, these are long-term exposures in homes and not acute peaks in vehicles foot-wells. It is not scientifically established that the kinds of short-term or foot-area exposures measured in modern vehicles directly cause disease. The BfS study itself concluded that no health-relevant effects are to be expected based on current knowledge.
Conventional vehicles safer? It is not necessarily correct that internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles yield lower cabin magnetic-field exposure in all conditions. Various studies show that strong currents (alternators, ventilation fans, wiring) in ICE vehicles also produce ELF magnetic fields. For example, one review noted that low-frequency magnetic fields inside vehicles depend on vehicle architecture and are not exclusive to EVs.

Hence to deem magnetic-field exposure sufficient reason to “never buy an EV or hybrid” exceeds what the current scientific evidence supports. One may choose to buy a conventional vehicle for this reason, but it would represent a precautionary choice rather than one mandated by the evidence.

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What practical take-aways for a consumer?

If you are concerned about magnetic fields in vehicles, here are sound, evidence-based considerations:

Manufacturers can reduce cabin magnetic fields through design: by routing high-current cables away from seating positions, using shielding, reducing stray currents, placing components further from occupants. The BfS report notes that these technical opportunities exist and should be considered in vehicle development.

If you drive an EV or hybrid and are concerned, you might minimise time spent with the vehicle in high-load conditions (e.g., heavy acceleration/braking) and avoid prolonged periods with high-current accessories running (though data suggest these pose far less exposure than driving loads).

If you spend long hours behind the wheel (e.g., taxi, ride-hailing) and want to minimise exposure, you might compare cabin magnetic-field measurements for different models (if available) or inspect manufacturers’ data.

Keep perspective: while magnetic-field exposure is measurable, the levels measured in current EVs/hybrids appear to comply with recognised acute exposure guidelines and no definitive causal link with disease from such exposures in this setting has been established.

If you are particularly cautious (for example due to certain health conditions or being pregnant) then you may prefer a vehicle with the lower measured exposure (which may or may not be an ICE), or ensure the seating position is away from known high-field zones (e.g., foot-well directly above high-voltage cabling).

Conclusion

The claim that magnetic-field exposure inside EVs or hybrids is so high and so dangerous that you should categorically refuse to buy them is not supported by the best available evidence. The German BfS study is the most comprehensive to date and finds that while magnetic fields are present in all vehicles and vary by model and driving condition, the vehicles analysed comply with recognised protection guidelines and no health-relevant effects are expected based on current knowledge.

That does not mean there is zero risk or that future studies might not reveal long-term effects associated with chronic exposure to repeated peaks, but neither does it justify an absolute prohibition of EVs or hybrids on magnetic-field grounds.

As with many consumer choices about emerging technology, the decision involves weighing the knowns, the unknowns and your personal tolerance for precaution. If magnetic-field exposure is a particular concern for you, it is worth doing model-by-model comparisons and monitoring emerging research; but it is not accurate at present to present this issue as a definitive reason to entirely rule out EV or plug-in hybrid ownership.

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