AM radio phased out in some EVs

[ecps92]

And none of them have a Solar panel on the roof, hmmmm

Electric vehicle owners should ONLY be allowed to charge their cars with wind or solar power, otherwise it is just pretend. So since it is a moot point, what difference will it make if they don't have AM radio?

 

[GROL]

And none of them have a Solar panel on the roof, hmmmm

Yep. Unfortunately solar panels are so inefficient you would need to tow a long trailer of them. But you would think a solar panel on the roof could maybe extend the range a little bit. You would have an excuse to get a spot on the top floor of the parking deck. I have investigated solar for the house. Takes too many of them and the ROI is almost 30 years. The sales people tell you the electric companies raise rates 5-8 % per year. On average Duke Energy only increased rates a little less than 2% per year. I had to dig hard to go back 20 years to get rate increases. So if you are considering solar you really need to do some homework. I really wish it was a good investment, but I will wait for better solar panel technology.

 

[trauma74]

Lights out, Gorilla Radio

Great song!!!!!

 

[natedawg1604]

So for those of you who own EVs, where do you put antenna mounts? For example can you order a Tesla with an all metal roof?

 

[MCWKen]

As other have mentioned, there is a lot more interference out there these days. The Florescent lamps at stores, cable TV lines (it took me 3 years to convince the company that they do almost wipe out 720 AM in spots...took a technician with me, that changed their tune). Power lines these days more than they have in the past also play havoc with AM. Dirty LED displays....and the electronics on some Semi-Trucks.

Enforcement???? These days, it would be near impossible.

 

[Omega-TI]

I just read a story about a guy who had to give up his Christmas plans because his EV would not charge due to cold weather. Add in the expense to buy, expense to replace batteries, lack of chargers in my area (30 miles away), battery issues, like mining for lithium, disposal of lithium, fire dangers, and RFI. They can keep their EV's, I'll stick with the proven and reliable internal combustion engine that has been constantly improved over the past 100 years.

 

[captainmax1]

I'd much rather phase out EVs and keep AM radio, but that's just me.

I agree with you StoliRaz. I occasionally listen to AM radio. EV's do not help the pollution. Actually, the opposite.

 

[ai8o]

EVs generate a LOT of RFI.

An EVs electric motors, control circuits, batteries, etc, generate so much RFI INSIDE the EV, that an AM radio only hear bzzz, brup, bzzz, brup, bzzz, brup.........

So the manufacturers avoid any complaints by just not installing AM radios!

I wonder how all this RFI would effect two way radios installed in an EV.

 

[mwjones]

I wonder how all this RFI would effect two way radios installed in an EV.

Might ask the folks at SpaceX, since the security detail at Boca Chica (excuse me, Starbase) have Teslas being used by their detail, and they appear to be licensed for 800Mhz DMR (WROI507)

 

[mmckenna]

Might ask the folks at SpaceX, since the security detail at Boca Chica (excuse me, Starbase) have Teslas being used by their detail, and they appear to be licensed for 800Mhz DMR (WROI507)

We have one Zero motorcycle in the fleet. Officer carries a VHF handheld while on it, no issues.

On the flip side, there's some all electric busses running around town, I got behind one of those last week and it took out AM radio reception within about 150 feet.

Like many things, it depends on what the consumer wants and what the consumer is willing to pay for. Consumer usually wants everything and wants to pay for none of it.

 

[spongella]

Am a dyed-in-the-wool AM radio listener in the mobile but can understand why those automakers chose to remove Ancient Modulation from their EVs. Alternative is to stream via a cellphone I guess. I'm staying with my fossil-fueled-four-wheeler. 'Til death (or transmission failure) do us part.

 

[spongella]

Some new EVs are roving jammers and it would cost way more to tame it and install AM radios than its worth. But what happens when these cars cause interference to other users?

Maybe we can replace or tires with rubber coated toroid coils hihi.

 

[WRQS621]

The issue isn’t RFI, it is what is on AM radio.

 

[radionx]

Everclear - AM Radio

Sample from:

KHJ Los Aaaangeles

 

[studgeman]

So I actually drive an EV (Chevy Bolt) and it has AM radio. I also drive a 2012 vintage 3/4tn chevy pickup (towing). Both tend to get a lot of AM DX listening at night on the way home from different places. The Bolt is a little less sensitive than the truck, but that is also typical of the sharkfin antennas. I can't say it really is any noisier than the truck is. So somehow good 'ol GM figured out how to suppress all the broadband noise out of the AM band that everyone else seems to have a problem with.

 

[natedawg1604]

So I actually drive an EV (Chevy Bolt) and it has AM radio. ....

Is there a place to put LMR antennas? How would they be mounted?

 

[mmckenna]

So somehow good 'ol GM figured out how to suppress all the broadband noise out of the AM band that everyone else seems to have a problem with.

Yeah, it can be done if they want to. I think Tesla and some of the others have assumed that most consumers don't listen to AM radio, so they can save a few bucks per vehicle by not doing it.

To be honest, I mostly listen to AM radio, including quite a bit of AM DX while driving at night. There's a lot of electric vehicles in my area, and I've never had an issue with my AM radio, except for the one county transit electric bus that I got stuck behind.

But, hey, it's fun to be outraged by new technology. Everyone knows it is evil and no good will ever come from it. America was built by never taking chances and never being a leader in technology. I need to go feed my oxen, now.

 

[mmckenna]

Is there a place to put LMR antennas? How would they be mounted?

They go on the center of the roof, just like any other vehicle. Not all of them have a sun roof.

 

[studgeman]

I actually use a lip mount on the front hood. It's attached an older v/u IC-2720 and if you ever owned one of those you know the front end selectivity is quite poor. I haven't had an noise issues with the car and operating the radio. I haven't tried to run HF.

 

[cc333]

I feel that, like it or not, EVs of some sort are the future, but I will agree that there are numerous problems with them, and that people are pushing them out a bit too soon.

I do think pollution from cars is a big problem, but I'm not going to rush out and buy an EV any time soon because:

• They have an unfortunate tendency to burst into flames for no obvious reasons (usually caused by defects in the battery or charging circuitry)
• They tend to slam their brakes randomly and speed themselves into walls, other cars, and people once in awhile (this applies exclusively to some recent Tesla models. So far...)
• And, as mentioned, the process of mining lithium and other materials for building batteries is rather energy intensive, and actually erases a significant reduction on overall pollution

Then, there's the matter of radio interference.

Is there a list of EV models that include AM radios and those which don't? So far, someone said they have a Bolt EV, and that it has a decent AM radio, so that proves that at least some Bolt EVs have AM, and that interference from an EV drive train need not make AM receptiom impossible, so, why is this a problem?

I'm willing to bet that it's primarily Teslas that are omitting AM from their radios, because it's sort of their MO to not care if their EVs break AM; rather than fix the interference problem, they'll simply pretend that AM doesn't exist.

That said, I'm going to keep our old gas cars — and their AM radios — around for as long as I can.

c