| Vol. 10 | No. 4 | Fall 2008 |
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Dialogue
Do the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by a hybrid vehicle, with its electric motor and larger battery, pose a potential health risk? |
Anything that uses electricity or carries an electric charge creates an EMF, including televisions, power lines, appliances, and electric motors. The World Health Organization has concluded that there is no evidence to date linking EMFs with adverse health effects, but there are still some knowledge gaps that require additional research. Of the two types of EMFs, static (generated by direct current) and vibrating (generated by alternating current), vibrating EMFs have been the source of most health concerns—yet most of the electricity used in cars (including hybrids) generates static EMFs.
A car’s onboard electronics and wiring do generate some vibrating EMFs, but a 1999 U.S. Department of Transportation study found that the intensity of the vibrating EMFs in and around electric vehicles was nearly the same as those of conventional vehicles—and a thousand times better than European Union safety standards (the United States has no such standards for EMFs). This is possible despite the fact that hybrid motors are larger and generate more electricity because the electric wiring connecting the battery to the motor is shielded.
The known benefits of fuel-efficient hybrids—significant reductions in smog-forming and global warming pollution along with reduced spending at the gas pump—make these vehicles a healthy choice for consumers and the environment alike. To learn more, visit the UCS Hybrid Center website at www.hybridcenter.org.
Also in this issue of Earthwise:
Close to Home
Going Green with the Neighbors
