Electric Cars: The Hidden Dangers We’re Not Talking About – A Message from Idris our cat
This weekend has been incredibly difficult.
One of my beautiful cats, Idris, was killed on our country lane.
Many of you will have seen him over the years in my videos. He wasn’t just a pet — he was one of those rare animals who carried both the wild and the deeply affectionate. He had a huge territory, incredible awareness, and a natural ability to navigate risk.
He knew how to avoid cars.
And yet… he didn’t stand a chance this time. He was hit by an electric car he couldn’t hear or sense coming
I’m not writing this for sympathy.
I’m writing this because I don’t want this happening to more animals — and because I believe there are aspects of modern life, including electric vehicles, that we are not being fully honest about.
Electric Cars and Wildlife: A Real Risk
Animals experience the world very differently to us.
Their survival depends on:
- scent
- vibration
- subtle changes in sound
Petrol and diesel cars produce a clear sensory signature:
- engine noise
- vibration through the ground
- exhaust scent
Electric vehicles change that.
They are quieter at low speeds and lack many of the cues animals rely on to detect danger.
This is not speculation.
Regulators introduced mandatory sound systems for electric vehicles because of safety concerns around detectability.[1][2]
Research has also shown that:
- pedestrians are significantly more likely to be involved in collisions with electric and hybrid vehicles at low speeds[3][4]
While data on wildlife is limited, the mechanism is the same:
👉 reduced detectability = reduced reaction time
For animals, that can be the difference between life and death.
This Is About Awareness, Not Blame
Many people have bought electric cars with good intentions.
But intention does not remove risk.
If you drive an electric vehicle, especially in rural or residential areas:
👉 please assume animals may not hear or detect you
👉 slow down more than you normally would
👉 stay alert near verges, hedgerows and open land
Because the warning system animals have relied on for generations is changing.
EMFs: An Overlooked Concern
Electric vehicles are fundamentally different environments.
They contain:
- high-voltage battery systems
- inverters and electric motors
- extensive wiring carrying strong currents
- multiple wireless systems (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, mobile connectivity)
All of this generates electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
Peer-reviewed research confirms that:
- EV cabins contain measurable electromagnetic fields due to their electrical systems[5][6]
- studies have shown higher magnetic field levels in electric and hybrid vehicles compared to petrol and diesel vehicles[7]
In one controlled study:
- hybrid vehicles showed significantly higher field exposure levels than conventional vehicles[7]
This matters because:
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified:
- radiofrequency EMFs as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)[8]
- extremely low frequency magnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic[9]
That is not a fringe idea.
It is a recognised scientific classification.
We do not yet have full long-term data on chronic exposure inside modern electric vehicles — but that is exactly the point. I see so many people driving children and pets around in electric cars – you just don’t know the risks. If you do have one please contact me for ways you can lower your risk with solutions that work.
Fire Risk and Environmental Reality
Electric vehicles are often presented as environmentally friendly.
But the reality is more complex.
Fire risk:
- EV battery fires are more difficult to extinguish
- can reignite
- require more water and specialised handling[11][12]
Repair and insurance:
- EV repairs are more expensive and slower than petrol/diesel equivalents[13]
Environmental impact:
- battery production requires lithium, cobalt and nickel
- mining these materials has significant environmental and ethical consequences[14][15][16]
Recycling:
- battery recycling is still developing
- infrastructure is limited
- long-term waste implications remain a concern[17][18]
🔍 A Question Worth Asking
We are told this is progress.
But progress for who?
And at what cost?
🧠 Science Should Ask Questions — Not Shut Them Down
History shows us something very clearly:
Some of the most harmful substances and technologies were once considered safe.
- Smoking
- Asbestos
- Thalidomide
- Glyphosate
In each case, early warning signs existed.
But they were dismissed.
Science did not fail because people asked questions too early.
It failed because those questions were ignored.
Nature Doesn’t Wait for Proof
No animal waits for a published paper before responding to danger.
They:
- sense
- adapt
- respond early
Because survival depends on it.
And yet as humans, we are increasingly told to ignore instinct, observation, and emerging patterns — and wait.
What If There Is More to This?
This is where some people will become uncomfortable.
But the question still deserves to be asked.
Electric vehicles are not just cars.
They are:
- software-driven
- connected
- remotely updatable
- integrated into wider digital systems
For example:
- modern vehicles receive over-the-air updates and can be remotely accessed or controlled in certain ways[20][21][22]
At the same time:
- global policy frameworks (such as Agenda 2030) emphasise transformation of transport systems as part of wider societal change[19]
And alongside this, there are long-standing discussions — including those attributed to Richard Day — describing future systems involving:
- restricted movement
- digital identity
- increased centralised control[23]
You do not have to accept these interpretations.
But you should at least be willing to look at the pattern and ask the question.
We Need Better Questions
Not:
👉 “Is this proven beyond all doubt?”
But:
👉 What are the early warning signs?
👉 What are the unintended consequences?
👉 Who benefits?
👉 What are we not being told?
💔 Why This Matters
Because Idris should still be here.
He did everything right.
But the world around him changed.
🌿 What You Can Do
- Drive with greater awareness, especially in electric vehicles
- Slow down where wildlife and pets are present
- Question simplified narratives about “green” solutions
- Look at the full picture — not just the marketing
🌱 Final Thought
We all want to do the right thing.
But doing the right thing starts with being willing to look deeper.
Idris was not just a cat.
He was part of our family.
And he deserved better.
If this made you think, please share it.
And if you have credible resources or insights, add them below.
We need to start having these conversations.
To Support More Animals like Beautiful Idris:
This is the charity where we got Idris, and our other Romanian cat Mitzi – they are amazing – if this touched you please consider sending a donation so that more animals can be saved and find their forever home:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/oddanimalsrescue/about
ODD Animals Rescue -SCIO SC050444 ( Old, Disabled, Damaged and Black Animals Rescue) was established in 2020 by a group of volunteers who shared a common vision: to help the most vulnerable and overlooked.
Why are we different?
Because we acknowledge that not every dog or cat is a pet but we also believe that every dog and cat deserves a chance no matter the age, health state or if they are a pet or not. In order for this goal to be achieved in an environmental sustainable way we must act locally. This is why we took over a rundown and overcrowded shelter in Brasov, Romania, in autumn 2020 and 35 of its permanent residents, our ‘forgotten dogs’. Since then we worked continuously to improve the living standards and with your help we hope that in 3 years it will become one the few sanctuaries based in Romania for dogs with severe behavioural and health conditions.
We also believe that one cannot treat the symptoms instead of the cause. And our most valuable project is the Free Neutering Campaign in the local community. The only way to stop the stray population is to neuter, neuter and neuter some more in the rural areas. In our first year of activity we managed to spay through our program 66 female dog and 211 female cats with or without owners. It might be a drop in the ocean but it is a start.
How can you help?
Please contact us if you want to find out more about our activities, virtual adoptions program, fostering opportunities and other events.
And since every penny counts please
or use bank account:
SORT CODE: 83 23 13
ACCOUNT NO: 12944865
Changing the odds one pet at a time.
Rehoming License for Scotland: 21/00261/COMM
📚 References
Note: Some sources reflect emerging research or widely discussed materials. Readers are encouraged to review and interpret the information independently.
[1] UK Department for Transport (2019).
New noise systems to stop ‘silent’ electric cars and improve safety.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-noise-systems-to-stop-silent-electric-cars-and-improve-safety
[2] European Commission (2019).
Electric and hybrid cars: new rules on noise emitting to protect vulnerable road users.
https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/electric-and-hybrid-cars-new-rules-noise-emitting-protect-vulnerable-road-users-2019-07-03_en
[3] London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (2024).
Pedestrians ‘twice as likely’ to be hit by electric or hybrid vehicles.
https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2024/pedestrians-twice-likely-be-hit-electric-or-hybrid-electric-car
[4] National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.
https://www.nhtsa.gov
[5] Gryz, K. et al. (2022).
Complex Electromagnetic Issues Associated with the Use of Electric Vehicles in Urban Transportation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8914635/
[6] Yang, Y. et al. (2019).
Long-Term Monitoring of Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields in Electric Vehicles.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6801816/
[7] Hareuveny, R. et al. (2015).
Characterization of Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields from Diesel, Gasoline and Hybrid Cars under Controlled Conditions.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4344686/
[8] International Agency for Research on Cancer (2011).
Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields classified as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B).
https://www.iarc.who.int
[9] International Agency for Research on Cancer (2002).
Static and Extremely Low-Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields.
https://publications.iarc.who.int
[10] IARC / ARIMMORA Consortium.
Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia risk.
https://www.iarc.who.int
[11] National Fire Protection Association.
Electric vehicle safety and fire risks.
https://www.nfpa.org
[12] National Fire Protection Association.
Lithium-ion battery fire safety guidance.
https://www.nfpa.org
[13] Thatcham Research (UK).
Impact of BEV Adoption on the Repair and Insurance Sectors.
https://www.thatcham.org
[14] International Energy Agency.
Electric Vehicles – Tracking Clean Energy Progress.
https://www.iea.org
[15] International Energy Agency.
The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions.
https://www.iea.org
[16] Vera, M. et al. (2023).
Environmental impact of lithium extraction from brines.
Nature Reviews.
https://www.nature.com
[17] International Energy Agency.
Recycling of Critical Minerals.
https://www.iea.org
[18] United Nations Environment Programme.
Electric Vehicle Lithium-ion Batteries in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries.
https://www.unep.org
[19] United Nations.
Sustainable Transport and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
https://sdgs.un.org
[20] Tesla.
Vehicle software updates and remote functionality.
https://www.tesla.com
[21] Tesla.
Remote access and control features (Tesla app / Summon).
https://www.tesla.com
[22] Reuters (2025).
NHTSA probe into Tesla remote control feature.
https://www.reuters.com
[23] Internet Archive.
Transcript attributed to Richard Day / Lawrence Dunegan (historical document).
https://archive.org
and New Order of Barbarians transcript (Richard Day / Dunegan) and https://www.jchristoff.com/blog/the-dr-richard-day-tapes-secret-society-insider-steps-forward-with-some-scary-truths and finally