Electromagnetic compatibility in the automotive environment

Modern automotive vehicles depend increasingly on sophisticated electronic control systems to enhance driver comfort and vehicle safety. Radiated immunity testing of cars to field strength levels of the order of 50 V m^-1 has been an important part of the vehicle development process for the last decade because of the harsh environment encountered and the safety-related nature of the control systems. The article reviews the way in which electromagnetic compatibility has been approached by the automotive industry for the last 40 years starting with legislation to control ignition interference to the development of a draft product-specific directive covering all aspects of automotive EMC which will ensure that the automotive industry does not fall within the scope of 89/336/EEC