AM Radio

[DavidMcmillan]

I keep hearing PSAs urging us to let Congress know of our support for a bill that would require auto makers to keep AM radios as standard equipment. There seems to be some sort of problem in EVs. Ford initially did not have AM in the electric F-150 and the EV Mustang but are now sending free updates to the software.

What problems does AM cause in EVs?

 

[Bad Hombre]

Car manufacturers typically cite electromagnetic interference as the reason for removing the radios from EVs. Electric motors can interfere with AM radio frequencies, making it sound staticky over the airwaves

 

[dlbleak]

They provide conservative talk radio to them

 

[rickm]

It was interfering with the bugs they had planted and they couldnt listen to the conversations going on inside the vehicles.

 

[SoonerP226]

What problems does AM cause in EVs?

Consumer complaints. AM is more sensitive to EM interference, so they pick up more noise from the electric powertrain, and people complain about it.

 

[TwoForFlinching]

AM radio waves travel very slow as compared to FM. That's why you can pickup AM signals coast to coast - KOMA-AM could be heard from California to Seattle to Green Bay after sunset back in the day. There's a station in Mexico city that can be heard worldwide, just the nature of slow bouncing kilohertz signals. It also makes them susceptible and sensitive to interference.

AM tried to get ahead of changing electronics a few years ago with HD-AM, but the cost of equipment coupled with doubling the electric and HVAC bills didn't make the transition a profitable venture.

 

[PBramble]

 

[mtnboomr]

Because of it's longer range, AM is better suited to carry public service and emergency announcements than the FM frequencies.

 

[SoonerP226]

AM radio waves travel very slow as compared to FM.

I guess they successfully negotiated a legal limit on the speed of light, eh? AM and FM propagate at the same speed (the speed of light), but the AM wavelengths are reflected by the ionosphere. That’s why you can hear some AM stations from Mexico to Canada—the signal is being bounced back towards Earth by the upper atmosphere.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Car manufacturers typically cite electromagnetic interference as the reason for removing the radios from EVs. Electric motors can interfere with AM radio frequencies, making it sound staticky over the airwaves

This is the most logical answer, although not the most humorous. Kudos for a fine analytical and educated mind. As to the other posts they are plausible if not possible. Auto makers want to move to electronics for many reasons, #1 is it is cheap! At first I liked things like computer tuning and engine control, in many cars it is possible to tune in HP gains of 5%, 10% or 20% just by remapping timing and fuel. Now no mechanical gauges, they are expensive to make as opposed to an LCD Screen.

With all of this AM radio poses a big price increase in production to insulate the radio from all the other electrical interference. The 1970 LT1 Corvette needed a metal cover on the coil and distributer to shield the radio from Electrical Interference from it's "high energy" ignition system. That cover cost GM money to put in the car just so people could listen to the radio.