People with cardiovascular implants, such as a pacemaker, should beware of devices that generate a strong magnetic field, such as metal detectors, cell phones, and some battery chargers. What about electric vehicles? Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have concluded that they are safe.
Their study, published earlier this year, looked at a hundred different devices from seven manufacturers. Participants had to take a seat in an electric vehicle (a Nissan LEAF , a Tesla Model S, a BMW i3 or a Volkswagen e-Up) and the effects felt were recorded by an electrocardiogram and then analyzed by two independent cardiologists
Result: the researchers did not detect any impact on the functioning or programming of cardiac devices while driving or taking a seat in the vehicle.
The interference level is considered clinically negligible, even under full acceleration when the electromagnetic effects are at a maximum.
That said, the study focused on what is going on in the car, not around it. Researchers warn that people with pacemakers should still be careful near level 2 (240 V) and level 3 (400 V) charging stations, which use a strong electric current. By extension, this also includes the charging cable and the plug on the vehicle.
In short, there is no harm in traveling on an electric vehicle if you have a cardiac device. However, you should let someone else plug and unplug the vehicle and stay away in the meantime.
