German Study Finds Vehicle Electromagnetic Fields Safe but Highlights Peak Exposure Concerns

New findings from the Federal Office for Radiation Protection confirm compliance with safety limits but call for updated standards to address transient EM field spikes.

• The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) has confirmed that electromagnetic field levels in all tested vehicles, including electric and conventional models, remain within legally recommended safety limits.
• Transient peaks in electromagnetic exposure occur during start-up, acceleration, and braking, with experts urging updated testing protocols to better capture these short-term spikes.
• Driving behavior, particularly sporty driving with rapid acceleration and braking, has a greater impact on peak EM field levels than engine power output.
• Electric vehicles, due to components like high-voltage batteries and inverters, have additional EM field sources, but their overall emissions remain non-hazardous compared to conventional vehicles.
• Experts recommend that automakers incorporate improved shielding and distancing of EM sources during vehicle design to further reduce exposure risks.

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