As electric vehicles (EVs) gain popularity worldwide, a growing number of passengers are reporting motion sickness.

This is not simply a psychological effect. The driving characteristics of today's EVs may, in fact, increase the likelihood of motion sickness, according to China Science Communication.

Motion sickness in EVs is often attributed to a combination of factors, including the vehicles' unique power delivery characteristics, regenerative braking systems and in-cabin environment.

Researchers at Tsinghua University's State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Green Vehicle and Mobility are trying to find out whether the array of screens commonly built into the cabins of the vehicles could be the cause.

By recreating motion sickness in an immersive virtual environment and monitoring brain, eye and physiological signals, the team is uncovering the science behind visually induced motion sickness.

The team is working with hospitals to better understand the medical mechanisms behind visually induced motion sickness, with the goal of designing more human-centered in-cabin interactions.

The team has also partnered with new energy vehicle manufacturers to advance emotionally intelligent and proactive AI cabins technologies. Together, they have pioneered a next-generation AI cognitive interaction system for smart vehicle cabins.