Toyota Demo Argues Electronic Throttle not to Blame
Toyota won't go down without a fight, despite allegations of am electronic throttle issue causing unintended acceleration in several of their vehicles.
In many of the previous blog posts, we've discussed the allegations against Toyota, including the one involving a potential electrical problem in Toyota's electronic throttle system. Essentially, some researchers have claimed that the current Toyota sudden acceleration problem may be due to a flaw in the onboard computer systems of the cars.
Amidst allegations and testimony before Congress earlier this month, Toyota has stepped up it's game in hopes of rebutting evidence of potential electronics problems presented before Congress.
The automobile manufacturer held a press conference and demonstration over the Internet yesterday, attempting to rebut criticism over its electronic throttle system and claiming that many of the conditions presented in the research findings to Congress were not realistic examples of what could actually happen in a Toyota while it is driving.
Earlier in the Congressional hearings, Toyota was faced with opposition and adverse scientific research findings presented by Professor David Gilbert of Southern Illinois University. Stanford professor of mechanical engineering, Chris Gerdes, begs to differ with Gilbert.
According to Gerdes, he and his team could not replicate any of the dangerous conditions which Gilbert warned about in his Congressional testimony; conditions which could cause unintended acceleration. Toyota presented the opinion of electrical engineering expert, Dr. Shukri Souri, who claimed that the re-wiring presented by Gilbert created a condition which was unrealistic and did not normally occur in ordinary use.
Other sources of criticism in Toyota's accelerator problem is a recent report by ABC News, which showed the effects of sudden acceleration using a parked car.
Related Resources
- Toyota Knocks ABC News Report (Wall Street Journal)
- Toyota Slams Sudden Acceleration Research of Auto Expert as Unrealistic (ABC News)
- Toyota Recall and Lawsuits (FindLaw's Injury Center)
- Personal Injuries from Defective Products (provided by Law Office of John J. Finckbeiner, Jr.)