Pacemakers and electric motorcycles

I have sold my Yamaha MT-09 motorcycle which gave me no problems and I am pace dependent.

I am looking at electric motorcycles and wonder if anyone has experience with them from the interference point of view. The motors tend to have substantial permanent magnets and I am trying to find out if they are well shielded.

Any comments from those who already ride one would be handy.


5 Comments

e-bikes

by AgentX86 - 2022-06-29 14:43:07

I don't have one but there is no problem with them. The motor is pretty small and it's not in your chest.  It is very unlikely to be a permag motor but it wouldn't matter if it were.  Permag motors are simply too expensive and heavy for this application. It'll surely (99.99% confidence) that it'll be a universal motor like a power drill or electric weed-whacker (either corded or cordless). It's probably brushed but it could be brushless.  Either way, no problem.

Electric Motors

by Good Dog - 2022-06-30 08:16:17

I spent a large part of my career working very closely around both synchonous and induction motors. The synchonous motors were 11,000 volt and as large as 4,000 h.p. I also toured the Niagara Falls power plant and stood next to (within 1 foot) of an operating turbine generator. I am not recommending anyone to do those things, but with my experience I can honestly say that these pacemakers are really bullet-proof. Medtronic tells us that if there is ever any interference with our PM's, it is unlikely to harm the generator or us and simply back-away from the source. That is why I was never afraid to put my PM to the test.

So my point here is that you really should not have anything to worry about. However, if you have any doubts, just give the bike a slow test drive to be sure.

Sincerely,

Dave

Try and see

by AgentX86 - 2022-06-30 14:21:33

Again, the chances that this bike will bother your PM is so close to zero, it's zero (insert limit theory).

The problem for those of us who are dependent is that we may not have the oppertunity to back away.  If the pacemaker is affected we may drop like a rock.  That's what "dependent" means.

In the case of the e-bike, we have larger motors all around us.

Resource for concerns about electromagnetic fields

by Good Dog - 2022-06-30 19:52:20

Here is a great resource for anyone that has concerns about the effect of electromagnetic fields. Copy and paste it in your browser in its entirety:

https://www.medtronic.com/content/dam/medtronic-com/01_crhf/tachy/documents/EMC%20Guide%202016%20201103391eENp8.pdf?bypassIM=true

EMF fields

by Theknotguy - 2022-06-30 20:29:24

AgentX86 and Good Dog gave you some good info.  Just after I got my pacemaker they were telling me not to get close to running motors.  Daughter-in-law's battery died in her car.  I forget about my pacemaker.  Go over and jump start the car.  Then I'm leaning over the running engine.  Pacemaker manuals say it's a no-no but I don't feel a thing.  Your electric bike won't put out the EMF field the car did so you shouldn't be bothered.

I've also handled rare earth magnets.  You know the kind you have to pry apart.  EMF field from them isn't large enough to bother the pacemaker.  Although I'm not stupid enough to put the magnet over my pacemaker. But I can handle them with no problems.  Just keep them at least six inches to a foot away from the pacemaker.  

Hope you enjoy the new bike and adapting to your pacemaker goes well. 


 

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