Do electric cars (battery powered) pose a health risk in the form of magnetic fields etc?

Answer 1

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Let's divide the answer into three possible hazards: Pollution, shock hazards and electromagnetic fields.
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1) Pollution. Electric cars dramatically reduce pollution, even when power plants burn dirty fuels. The reason is the greatly improved efficiency of electric vehicles over gas vehicles, and the improved efficiency of fuel delivery (sending energy over wires is much more efficient than sending fuel by truck to your gas station.) Since it takes less energy to move the same distance, less pollution is created. Plus, significant electricity is now made from clean sources.
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2) Shock hazard. There is no reason to run high voltage through the passenger cabin, just like there's no reason to run gas lines there. Both gas lines and electrical wiring run underneath the chassis, where no one would accidentally touch either of these things, or cut through them. Failsafes also kill power after an accident. Gasoline is more dangerous because nobody can 'turn it off' once it spills.
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3) Electrical fields (EMF.) There isn't strong evidence to support any dangerous effects from low-frequency EMF. But research continues. It's not likely to be any more dangerous than your cell phone or microwave oven, and in fact probably less so, since the frequencies are much lower. However, read what the EPA says about fumes from gasoline cars:
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"Emissions from cars contain many different noxious gases, including several known human carcinogens. In fact, the EPA estimates that automobile fumes account for over 50% of all cancers attributed to outdoor causes."
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I'll take my chances in an electric car.
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Answer 2

You may have seen the Tesla electric sportscar http://www.teslamotors.com

You may have even seen the T-Zero electric sports car http://www.acpropulsion.com/ACP_FAQs.htm

These two cars show that it is now possible to build electric cars that can out-accelerate a Ferrari, and go 250 - 350 miles on a single charge. But both these cars are very expensive.

So who else is working on electric cars?

Would you believe China? They have to work on EVs. There won't be enough oil to support China's future economic growth.

I drive an old electric vehicle. I also have friends with electric vehicles. Some of them have recently been able to buy some amazing, cutting-edge EV batteries from China - example:

http://www.everspring.net/product-battery.htm

These batteries are better, and cheaper than the ones in those $100,000+ sportscars above. If you look at the chart, you'll see they are as cheap as lead-acid batteries, and they hold up for 1100 charges, twice as many charges as the other LI-Ion batteries on the chart.

Now, look at this car:

http://www.milesautomotive.com/products_xs200.html

It's a Chinese electric car, which will be imported into the USA next year. The driving range is almost as good as those sports cars above. But it only costs $28500.

Answer 3

no i doubt it ... we are exposed to electric magnetic feilds everyday everywhere ... and the shock danger im sure could be overcome by designing some sort of failsafe ... kinda like the way airbags are operated only it triggers a mechanism in the cells to disconnect. there is no good reason not to go to electric cars other than economics ... it would crash the economy that relies heavily on oil and gas.

Answer 4

No. But everyone should remember that although electric cars themselves do not produce pollution, producing the electricity that charges the batteries is still a high producer of pollution.

Answer 5

No. The hazard is when you crash it and rescue workers try to get you out and they get shocked by touching bare wires and stuff. There's a buttload of voltage there that isn't nearly as much of a problem in a petroleum-powered vehicle.

Answer 6

Yes, if you have a metal plate in your head, everytime you hit the gas your head will be pulled into the dash.....tragic...Tragic

GM is rolling out the Malibu Hybrid next year, Ford has the Escape Hybrid, THis guy before me must live in China

Answer 7

Sorry, don't know.