Did you know that EVs interfere with AM Radio waves?
I read yesterday in the Wall Street Journal that Teslas have already gotten rid of AM.
Here’s an excerpt from “Sadness and Static as AM Stations Fade–Space aliens, UFOs, the supernatural—all grist for radio shows” by Peter Funt.
Several European car makers, including Audi, BMW, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo, have stopped putting AM radios in certain models. Trendy EVs and hybrids have electrical systems that interfere with AM audio. But rather than moving a few parts around, or shielding the equipment better, manufacturers are cutting out AM.
American automakers are taking a more cautious approach, but Tesla has already eliminated AM radios, and Ford plans to drop AM from its electric pickup trucks. It’s no small matter, since about 47 million Americans still listen to programming on the AM dial, according to Nielsen data.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/sadness-and-static-as-am-stations-fade-electric-car-airwaves-radio-host-ufo-media-auto-drive-soundtrack-11675023531?mod=hp_opin_pos_2#cxrecs_s
The article also said that those of us who grew up with AM radio view it as the soundtrack of our lives. I grew up on the west coast of Washington State. KJR AM radio was the top 40 station. One of my best friends signed up our high school for a competition where we saved our Wrigley’s gum wrappers and made a chain with them. The school that built the longest chain won a concert downtown Seattle for the band WAR — free for the entire school.
We won. I always wondered if we really won, or if it was my friend dating a DJ at the radio station?
I used to listen to the wacky Art Bell at night when I couldn’t sleep. People would call in with tall tales of UFOs and abductions, mysterious discoveries of crystal skulls and assorted weirdness. I found it entertaining.
I’d also tune into talk and news shows while I drove. It sort of was a soundtrack of my life.
Now with Sirius in the car, we rarely tune in AM. We listen to music of our preferred decades.
Do you think that AM will fade away? What AM stations have you listened to and what was their format?
I don’t think we have AM radio. Only have FM in our cars.
It’s so surprising to me that some cars no longer have AM.
March of time I guess.
I guess people listen more to podcasts and live stream programs.
Or Spotify!
Yes!
👍🏼
I don’t listen to AM anymore, but I do fondly remember KJR!
That’s great you remember KJR, too!
I listened in high school until there was FM and then I stopped listening to AM except for the baseball game. Now I never listen to the radio. I hate disc jockeys and their stupid banter and commercials. I use my phone always.
I remember when FM came into fashion and they’d play whole albums.
We are just one step from removing radios. They already have multiple USB ports in front and rear areas, so we can plug up phones, MP3’s, Tablets…all so we can bring our own entertainment.
That’s true! I feel sorry for the people working in radio. But life moves on.
I can’t afford XM Radio and can’t find many news stations on FM. That’s the main reason I listen to A.M Radio.
I listen to AM for news also.
I rarely listen to the radio, but even when I did, the last time I listened to am radio was probably 1979 because my moms car only had am
Isn’t that something? Cars used to only have AM, and today they are getting rid of it.
I know!
👍🏼