EV Cars Are Missing Out On A Crucial Benefit By Ditching AM Radio
Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 still has AM radio but new Tesla models and Ford F-150 Lightnings starting in 2023 will not have AM radios
The importance of AM radio in cars for emergency situations is unquestionable. It is argued that AM radio is a necessary safety feature, as it is often the last line of communication during natural disasters and extreme weather events. It is also noted that more than 75 radio stations are equipped with backup communications equipment and generators that allow them to continue broadcasting information to the public during and after an emergency. Additionally, seven former Federal Emergency Management Agency administrators sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and some congressional committees, arguing that automakers should maintain AM radio in cars.
AM radio, or amplitude modulation radio, has been a revolutionary technological advancement for over 100 years, on par with television and the internet. It has been a dependable means of communication during emergencies for almost as long, as AM radios have been installed in cars for decades. However, automakers now claim that AM radios are incompatible with electric motors.
This incompatibility means that new Tesla models and Ford F-150 Lightnings starting in 2023 will not have AM radios. Despite this, Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Toyota’s bZ4X still have AM radio, showing that it is not an insurmountable challenge for EV manufacturers.
According to a statement published by Wall Street Journal AM radio reporter Ryan Felton on Monday, Ford was able to include AM radio in previous F-150 Lightnings, but it has been removed due to electromagnetic interference from EV propulsion systems. In a written statement, Ford explained that the frequencies used in AM radio are susceptible to this type of interference.
While it is unclear how Ford was able to overcome the technological hurdle with previous F-150 Lightnings, Wall Street Journal AM radio reporter Ryan Felton notes that former heads of the Federal Emergency Agency have sent a letter stating that automakers’ decision to remove AM radio from their vehicles is concerning.
According to FEMA, over 75 radio stations, primarily broadcasting on the AM band and covering 90% of the U.S. population, have backup communication equipment and generators in place. This infrastructure enables them to continue disseminating vital information to the public during and after emergency situations.
AM radio’s importance as a lifeline during emergencies is a compelling reason to keep it in cars, and perhaps even mandate it as a basic safety feature, akin to other government-mandated safety measures in new cars. Having access to dependable communication during crises is undoubtedly invaluable.
Moreover, AM radio also offers an unparalleled listening experience, particularly when it comes to baseball broadcasts. The timeless, otherworldly, and blissful quality of an AM baseball broadcast is unmatched. And with the added benefit of being able to receive emergency updates, it’s a heavenly listening experience that Tesla owners can only dream of.
