[Fast Eddie]

Many makers of electric vehicles have begun removing AM radios, and government officials are concerned that inaccessibility to those airwaves could pose a risk to drivers, Axios reports. During emergencies, officials frequently provide critical updates about unsafe conditions via AM radio, but EV manufacturers claim that their motors interfere with the frequencies, which fades the signal. Nearly 50 million people still listen to AM radio, per Nielsen data, but automakers argue that there are other ways for the government to communicate with drivers, such as Bluetooth connections to smartphone apps.

 

[aldo90731]

Heck, I still want a CD player in my car!

 

[GP49000]

Arrogance on the part of the EV manufacturers. Doesn't Federal law require that their devices cause no interference and that they be thus certified?

 

[Bob Lincoln]

Many makers of electric vehicles have begun removing AM radios, and government officials are concerned that inaccessibility to those airwaves could pose a risk to drivers, Axios reports. During emergencies, officials frequently provide critical updates about unsafe conditions via AM radio, but EV manufacturers claim that their motors interfere with the frequencies, which fades the signal. Nearly 50 million people still listen to AM radio, per Nielsen data, but automakers argue that there are other ways for the government to communicate with drivers, such as Bluetooth connections to smartphone apps.

I really question the 50 million figure. I don't know a soul who has listened to AM radio for decades.
And to depend on AM radio for emergency notifications is antiquated and ineffective. FAR many more people have cellphones than listen to AM radio, and they have them turned on and with them far more than they are actively listening to AM radio, so they are more likely to get warnings via cellphone.

 

[Doug D]

Indeed. I recall the government (FCC?) did a test alert to all cell phones about 4-5 years ago. I remember being a meeting at work when all of our phones received the test alert.

The only time I have tuned into the AM band is when I wanted to listen to a football or baseball game that I could not find on FM. If I am in the Rav4 I would try to locate the game on satelite (Serius XM).

 

[valiant67]

Most of these cars are “connected”, there is no need to rely on AM radio for alerts.

 

[68RT]

I really question the 50 million figure. I don't know a soul who has listened to AM radio for decades.
And to depend on AM radio for emergency notifications is antiquated and ineffective. FAR many more people have cellphones than listen to AM radio, and they have them turned on and with them far more than they are actively listening to AM radio, so they are more likely to get warnings via cellphone.

On this area, AM gets me good news and talk. FM gets me music when the talk has gone to the extremist view peddlers.

 

[try2fix]

I really question the 50 million figure. I don't know a soul who has listened to AM radio for decades.
And to depend on AM radio for emergency notifications is antiquated and ineffective. FAR many more people have cellphones than listen to AM radio, and they have them turned on and with them far more than they are actively listening to AM radio, so they are more likely to get warnings via cellphone.

I was listening to a local comedy station on AM until about 4 years ago when that station shut down. Would still be doing so if they didn't get bought out and shut down.

 

[World14]

I really question the 50 million figure. I don't know a soul who has listened to AM radio for decades.

When I did NCP's, and generally found the local FM rock station very bland and boring, I would listen to a couple different AM radio stations. One was pop with a lean towards some hip hop and the other was R&B.
They were very good, if not pretty terrible quality, stations.
I go back every so often to listen just for the fun of it!

 

[Elroy the Brave]

AM radio still gets quite a bit of use for Sporting Events.

 

[Dead Reckon]

The only thing I think about when I hear the term AM radio is the eerie station my '77 Oldsmobile Delta 88 was stuck on after I punched the radio when it wouldn't stop randomly blaring "94.9 STAR COUNTRY". It was like picking up a Russian radio station from an alternate dimension, static, some kind of Russian sounding language, and damned ghostly polka music. You could just baaaarely hear it coming out of the one working speaker on the passengers side of the dash. It was always stuck on that or the haunting classical music station.

 

[valiant67]

Arrogance on the part of the EV manufacturers. Doesn't Federal law require that their devices cause no interference and that they be thus certified?

There is a difference between interference within a device and the transmission of interference over RF.

 

[ImperialCrown]

The FCC has Part 15 that used to mean something, but has been ignored lately because there is more money to be had in ISP's & broadband, etc.
As an old Ham radio operator & SWLer, the household/neighborhood electrical noise has been a challenge when trying to copy weak, distant signals.
Shielding & multiple grounds have helped. Knowing what is causing the interference is the first step in solving it.
The FCC is a shadow of its former self. It has been deregulated, destaffed, defunded and taken over by the digital/internet/telecommunication lobbies.

Equipment Authorization – RF Device

What is an RF Device? The FCC regulates radio frequency (RF) devices contained in electronic-electrical products that are capable of emitting radio frequency energy by radiation, conduction, or other means. These products have the potential to cause interference to radio services operating in...

www.fcc.gov

 

[Dave Z]

I certainly agree regarding the FCC. Unfortunately too many people believe government has no role in regulation.

I still listen to AM on a regular basis, FWIW. Not just in my Valiant, where there is no choice, but in my newer cars, because I have a choice of good quality news stations—four of them if you count NPR (when I can deal with their affectations).