The study conducted by the University of Lincoln and CarGurus involved 20 dogs and was carried out over 2 days. The dogs’ behaviour was measured across two 10-minute journeys, one in an EV and one in a diesel.
Data from the study showed that the dogs were more settled during the journeys in the EV. They also showed reduced symptoms of car sickness when taking a ride in an electric car.
In both types of vehicle, the dogs would lay for about a third of the 10-minute journey. However, in the diesel car, dogs would break their laying position 50% more often than they would in the EV.
Daniel Mills, Professor of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine at the University of Lincoln, stated that the increased movement and restlessness are likely due to the differences in noise and/or vibration within the two types of cars.
A small number of dogs also showed to be noticeably less nauseous when travelling in the EV. This could not only be seen visually in their behaviour but also in their heart rates, which dropped by up to 30% in some instances.
The findings put to rest claims that the different vibrations in electric cars could upset or increase stress in our pets.
Professor Daniel Mills also commented: “Our results clearly show that dogs seem to be more relaxed in EVs, particularly when looking at behavioural traits such as restlessness.
“Additionally, an interesting and somewhat unintended revelation from the study came from the dogs that we identified as having potential symptoms associated with travel sickness.
“During their journeys in the EVs, biometric recordings of these dogs revealed their heart rates slowed markedly more than when they were in diesel cars. This was of particular interest to us given an increase in heart rate is commonly associated with motion sickness.
“It’s an intriguing result, which raised additional questions for exploration within this field.”
These findings follow a study, commissioned by Citroen, which showed that babies fell asleep more easily in an EV than in an ICE car.
