A recent study conducted by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has investigated whether the electromagnetic fields generated by electric vehicle charging stations pose a risk to people with pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (CIEDs). The study found that individuals with these devices can safely be in close proximity to charging stations without any risk of electromagnetic interference. The research team used a worst-case scenario approach, testing the devices with high-power charging stations that are not yet widely available. The study involved 130 participants with pacemakers or CIEDs, who were asked to charge four electric vehicles with high-power charging stations. The study found no clinically relevant electromagnetic interference or device malfunctions during the charging process.
There are between eight and twelve million people worldwide with pacemakers, and between 150,000 and 200,000 people receive implantable cardioverter-defibrillators each year. It is essential for these individuals that their devices function correctly. The study aimed to determine whether the electromagnetic fields generated by electric vehicle charging stations could interfere with the functioning of these devices. The study found that there was no risk of electromagnetic interference, even when the charging cable was positioned directly over the implanted device.
The study used high-power charging stations that are not yet widely available, and the researchers noted that the study did not investigate the safety of home charging stations, which use a different type of current. However, the lead researcher emphasized that patients with pacemakers or CIEDs can be reassured that charging electric vehicles with high-power charging stations is safe. The study’s findings suggest that the risk of device malfunction or electromagnetic interference is extremely low in this situation.
