Editor Blogs

March 2020

Digi-Key to Help Design Cheaper Hospital Ventilator

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

We can all quibble over the severity of COVID-19, but the hospital ventilator shortage is fairly incontrovertible. And industry is stepping up in various ways – Digi-Key just announced a collaboration with the University of Minnesota to make parts for low-cost respirators. They say “necessity is the mo

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Date:

03/31/2020

Dyson

Dyson's CoVent ventilator

Dyson to Produce Hospital Ventilators to Address Shortages

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

We just reported how Tesla, GM, and Ford offered their factories to help build hospital ventilators, but they’re not the only companies addressing the pandemic – Dyson just agreed to build 15,000 ventilators, 1/3 of which will be donated. In concert with The Technology Partnership (TTP), and with a U.K. g

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Date:

03/26/2020

Tesla, GM, Ford Offer Factories to Make Hospital Ventilators

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

“Nonessential” businesses are shutting down across the country, and several are retooling to meet the national health crisis. Three major auto manufacturers have offered up their factories to make hospital ventilators in the event of a shortage. After some less-than-gentle prodding, Elon Musk joined General Mo

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Date:

03/24/2020

Volkswagen Conversion Kit Lets You Electrify Your Hippie Van

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

If you wanted an electric hippie bus but don’t want a brand new vehicle, Volkswagen has a keen solution. Their E-Bulli conversion kit will take your classic bus and bring it into the 21st century. We’ve previously covered the Volkswagen I.D. Buzz, a brand new creation with a 369-horsepower, all-wheel elec

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Date:

03/23/2020

Apple to Close Retail Stores Outside China Through 3/27

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

If you’d planned on getting your Apple device repaired, you’ll have a few less options – 271, to be exact. Every Apple Store outside of China is closing through March 27. The official Apple statement covers familiar ground – “maximizing social distance,” “reduce density” – plus future plans.

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Date:

03/15/2020

Electric Bubble Car Updates a Cult Classic

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

It was quirky in 1953, and nearly seven decades later, it’s still a unique specimen. And now it’s going electric. The Iso Isetta was a diminutive, no-frills mass-production vehicle with dimensions of 7.5 x 4.5 feet and fuel economy up to 58 mpg. Introduced at the height of the Cold War, the Isetta became the top-selling single-

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Date:

03/08/2020

A Tesla Model X similar to the one involved in the 2017 fatal crash.

Federal Panel Blames Tesla for Autopilot Fatal Crash

Jason Lomberg, North American Editor, PSD

When I said that self-driving cars can’t save us from ourselves, a federal watchdog panel apparently agreed with me. On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board blamed Tesla for a fatal 2018 crash involving its Autopilot “driver assistance” feature. Two years ago, a 2017 Tesla Model X on Autopilo

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Date:

03/02/2020