If you have a dog and a combustion-powered car, it might be time to reconsider buying a new all-electric vehicle. A study suggests that these are best suited for your favorite pet.
CarGurus, one of the most popular digital automotive platforms for shopping, buying and selling new and used vehicles, today released a groundbreaking study on the well-being of dogs in electric vehicles. Conducted in collaboration with the University of Lincoln in the UK, the study reveals that our pets are more relaxed in electric cars than in gasoline-powered cars.
” We know that most dogs will travel by car at some point in their lives, if not daily. Yet, while electric cars are increasingly popular among motorists, no studies have been conducted so far on their effects on dogs. said Professor Mills. ” Our results clearly show that dogs seem to be more relaxed in VEs, especially when looking at behavioral traits such as restlessness. “.
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Dogs are more relaxed in electric cars
The study, which lasted two days, involved 20 dogs, each of them making two 10-minute car journeys, one in an electric vehicle and the other in a diesel vehicle. During the journey, their behavior was analyzed.
Overall, owners said their pets most often suffered from overexcitement (58%), anxiety (48%) and nausea (44%) when traveling in the car. However, participants who have ever driven their dog in an internal combustion engine vehicle and in an electric motor vehicle said thathe felt better (39%), was calmer (43%), less anxious (42%) and cried less (45%) in an electric vehicle than in a thermal vehicle.
Indeed, in electric vehicles, researchers have found that dogs have left their lying position about 50% less often than in diesel vehicleswhich Professor Mills attributes to the sounds and vibrations of the diesel engine.
” An interesting and somewhat unintended revelation from the study came from the dogs we identified as showing potential symptoms associated with motion sickness. said Professor Mills. ” During their trips in EVs, the dogs’ biometric records revealed that their heart rates slowed significantly more than when they were in diesel cars. This was of particular interest to us, given that an increase in heart rate is usually associated with motion sickness. “.
The researchers found that the heart rate of a small number of dogs was 30% slower in an electric vehicle than in a diesel-powered vehicle. Fortunately, researchers have found that about 66% of them seem to enjoy being in the car with their handlers, regardless of the engine of the car.
So, if you have a thermal vehicle and a dog, we can only advise you to try electric cars. Tesla seems particularly suitable for your pets, since the American car manufacturer had launched a dog mode in its vehicles in 2019. As a reminder, the latter allows you to temporarily leave your dog in the vehicle in complete safety. The cabin temperature is automatically regulated, and a message warning potential passers-by that the animal is fine and safe is displayed on the main screen.
If your dog continues to be stressed no matter what vehicle they’re in, the study also looked at how dog owners try to keep their pets relaxed in the car. Almost half (47%) give out treats to encourage them to get in the car, 46% put a toy or blanket in the car, 36% take rides to get them used to traveling and 36% play relaxing music.
