Do Electric Ride-Hailing Cars Cause More Motion Sickness? "Accordion Driving" Is the Main Culprit

Riding in electric ride-hailing vehicles causes motion sickness more easily than riding in gasoline-powered cars—not because of the vehicles themselves, but due to drivers' "accordion-foot" driving style. Electric motors respond instantly and feature strong regenerative braking, creating a noticeable deceleration effect as soon as the accelerator is released. To save energy, some drivers frequently press and release the accelerator pedal abruptly, causing the car to lurch forward and backward repeatedly. This exacerbates the sensory conflict between the vestibular system and visual cues, triggering intense motion sickness. Such driving behavior is especially common among ride-hailing drivers, making passengers in electric vehicles about 1.5 times more likely to experience motion sickness compared to those in conventional cars. Experts recommend that motion-sickness-prone passengers sit in the front seat, look out the window frequently, avoid looking down at their phones or books, and ask drivers in advance to drive smoothly.