Transients in the mains supply of a gas station in the USA (called a petrol station in the UK) caused the spurious switch-on a microporcessor-controlled toaster one night after staff had all gone home.  Since the microprocessor wasn't in its normal programme, it didn't switch the toaster off.  The manufacturer of the toaster had omitted to include a thermal fuse, so the gas … [Read more...]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration-commissioned study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration into Toyota’s electronic controls and whether they can be affected by electromagnetic interference is due out later this month.Read more from Consumer Reports. … [Read more...]

Consumer Reports recently conducted a study to measure EMF levels in the hybrid cars in its test fleet, taking readings from five hybrids and eight conventional vehicles. The study found the highest EMF levels in the Chevrolet Cobalt, a conventional non-hybrid small sedan, but the levels were still far below the levels of EMF emitted by the Earth’s own magnetic field. To … [Read more...]

With new electric-car offerings from Tesla, Nissan and Chevrolet generating considerable buzz, the manufacturers find themselves facing obstacles as they acknowledge that clear answers to questions of how often and where to recharge aren’t yet available. The best solution, the Washington Post’s Joseph B. White contends, would be a consistent, easy-to-understand federal standard … [Read more...]