Stay tuned...
Do they need AM radio bandwidth for any other reason than talk radio that is pushing the industry to abandon it?
FWIW, I still smell a plot by leftist corporate scum to marginalize conservative talk radio. The radio interference by electric vehicle engines provides a convenient excuse. Hopefully, I’m wrong.
How about they design their crap so it doesn’t interfere? Isn’t that an FCC reg?
On a side note, years ago when we still had spark plug wires, the AM radio could be used to diagnose a cracked wire. I was on it one day and got an oscillating noise that changed with my use of the gas pedal. Went straight away to get new cables.
“Court rules automakers can record and intercept owner text messages”
https://therecord.media/class-action-lawsuit-cars-text-messages-privacy
Big Brother rides with you as you drive.
I can only listen to talk radio in my car, so it’s on AM only. I have profound hearing loss and simply cannot hear voices when there is any background ‘noise’ at all. (some call it music, I call it noise) I haven’t heard the lyrics to songs since they stopped playing Bing Crosby. Even then, for instance, when the news reports that the stock market was off, (or up), all I hear is that the stock market was ‘uh’. I wouldn’t buy a car unless it has AM radio.
Podcasts are useless in a car. The software to listen to them is generally written by some Gen X (or Y, or Q) geek sitting in his underwear in his mom’s basement. It requires constant detailed attention to actually produce sound, which cannot be done safely while driving a car, or even walking. I nearly got run over a couple of days ago fiddling with a podcast while walking on a trail.
Gov’t has no role here
If auotmakers want to drop AM, that is fine.
Interesting, but not surprising as Sen. Paul is a consertive.
(Also, when power windows and air conditioning were mostly found on luxury models, people knew how to shift for themselves, and most cars/trucks were available with three pedals...those were the days!)
I don't disagree that an AM radio may be a good thing to have (although I haven't listened much since Rush died), but if radios weren't required by the gov't in cars and trucks before, AM radios shouldn't be required by the gov't now.
I probably disagree with Rand Paul in one issue out of ten thousand.
This is that issue.
“ Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a car-industry trade group. Shielding cables and components to reduce interference would cost carmakers $3.8 billion over seven years, the group estimates.”
It’s interesting that they chose 7 years, circa 2030. I would love to see the actual variables used. Did they assume every car on the road will be EV to comply with net zero?
Is so, that’s $13.57 per vehicle. Sounds about right but, oh, such a scary number. An alternative narrative would be 3 gallons of gas in California. For the greenies it converts to 26kw, or less than an hour of charging time for your EV. One salad at Whole Foods salad bar.
Such drama.
EC
Now when I want to listen to AM, I use iHeart over my internet connection.
There is a technical reason for this.
AM radios in electric cars require a bunch of “insulation” from the electric engine. This adds complexity to the radio and pounds to the car.
Anyone who has ever tried to use an AM radio near a cheap fan knows that the radio signal is interrupted and you get wicked noise coming out of the speaker. Now imagine that against the huge battery bank and electric motor.
In electric cars every ounce needs to be accounted for. Extra weight means less effective range. Especially in the cold. Ha ha.
I know everyone wants to make this political…it’s not. It’s practical.
I don’t much care for electric vehicles. The government has caused this crap due to their regulations and targets. Don’t blame the manufacturers. It’s not their fault. It’s physics.
motley crew
I believe that term refers to Soros, the WHO, the WEF, Bill Gates...
-PJ
AM is all we listen to.
I dunno about where other people are at but around here mostly all of the AM is ate up with Mexican radio. Most all of the ‘talk-shows’ may have an AM hold-on but mostly have gone FM.
The actual TECHNOLOGY of radio is dead. And AM is more dead cause it’s crappy. “Radio” stations live on through websites and apps. Forget radio, move on. The fact that congress, a bunch of old people far far out of step with technology and society, want to save it is really proof that it’s already dead.
Bkmk
When the Chinese start detonating EMPs all over America, you’ll be wishing for those AM radios.
“Car Industry Seeks to Crush AM Radio”
Who cares, with Rush gone.