ZDNET test: $10 'electromagnetic' car de‑icer failed to remove frost

ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested a cheap device marketed as an "advanced electromagnetic antifreeze snow removal device" by leaving it in his car on a frosty night and found it did not remove snow or de-ice the windshield.

The product box made a range of claims, including using "active electron interference" to prevent water from condensing and icing and asserting it would not affect the human brain. Physically the gadget is a small black box with a switch, a micro USB port, self-adhesive tape on the bottom and a blue LED that blinks; the author noted the blinking blue light could draw unwanted attention from UK police.

Left overnight, the solar panel did recharge the tiny internal battery, but the device produced no de-icing effect. When opened, the unit fell apart easily and contained only a tiny circuit board, a small battery, a solar panel, an LED and a chip to blink the LED and control charging—no components that would produce any "advanced electromagnetic" effect.

The device cost about $10. The author recommends using a proper de-icer and scraper to defrost a car, a windshield cover for snow, and a cordless vacuum squeegee to deal with condensation, rather than buying such gadgets.

Key Topics

Tech, Electromagnetic De-icer, Adrian Kingsley-hughes, Windshield Scraper, Windshield Cover, Solar Panel