Interference

[RadioSquirrel]

I wonder if anyone can offer some insight regarding the amount of interference / birdies when using a receiver in a hybrid / EV?

It's about time to get a new-to-Me car, and I'm thinking about a Hybrid / EV, however if anyone has experience, can You clue Me in?

I've been doing this nonsense since I was 9 with a Star Roamer, which I still have under a Dust Cover. If someone had told Me that Hybrids / EVs / electric bikes would be commonplace, I likely would've said "Just say NO to drugs". And yet, here We are, and they're commonplace. Nobody even notices anymore.

No xmit in this scenario, just listening on the move. Next radio will likely be a SDS-150, with built-in GPS.

 

[MTS2000des]

I drive a Ford Explorer Hybrid PIU. It had a "noise elimination kit" added by Ford as part of the order specifically to reduce/eliminate noise. I have a VHF APX6500 HP, APX8500 all band MP, and 7500 U1/7/7. No abnormal RFI on V, U and 7/8 though I have NOT looked at the noise floor with a spec-an, but no reason to. Can hear distant repeaters/simplex on VHF. Antennas are all St-Co 1/4 waves except the 7/8 which are Motorola "salt shakers".

 

[dlwtrunked]

I drive a Ford Explorer Hybrid PIU. It had a "noise elimination kit" added by Ford as part of the order specifically to reduce/eliminate noise. I have a VHF APX6500 HP, APX8500 all band MP, and 7500 U1/7/7. No abnormal RFI on V, U and 7/8 though I have NOT looked at the noise floor with a spec-an, but no reason to. Can hear distant repeaters/simplex on VHF. Antennas are all St-Co 1/4 waves except the 7/8 which are Motorola "salt shakers".

On all cars I have owned (none hybrids), interference on VHF/UHF has never been a problem but the interference on HF has been trouble.

 

[ladn]

Never owned (or wanted to own) a hybrid or EV.
In other vehicles, electrical noise or interference was mainly confined to lower frequencies like 10M and CB, plus some alternator whine which filtering on the power lead took care of. My '66 Mustang was really noisy!

My two current vehicles, a 2021 RAV 4 and 2018 4Runner, are electrically very quiet for both Tx (ham VHF/UHF) and Rx (VHF lo/hi, UHF and 800 MHz). My scanner of choice is usually a 325P2. I use an external antenna on the 4Runner and the rubber duckie when I'm in the RAV.

I'd recommend bringing your scanner along on test drives and listening around on the bands. Maybe also connecting it to the vehicle's USB charging port. Each vehicle is going to be different.

 

[EAFrizzle]

Maybe also connecting it to the vehicle's USB charging port. Each vehicle is going to be different.

Each charging port can be different, as well. In my 2020 Nissan Rogue, the USB and 12v socket in the dash have all sorts of noise from the dashboard electronics; the ones in the center console are nice and quiet.

Like others here, most interference problems I've had have been 30 MHz and below. I don't consider alternator whine so much as interference as an installation problem. It's easily solved. Hunting down real interference in a car usually takes a bit more effort.

 

[mmckenna]

My wife drove a Ford Escape Hybrid from 2009 (new) to 2021. I had a VHF Motorola CDM1250 in it. Never a peep of noise.

At work, we have several of the Ford FPUI's like @MTS2000des with multiband Harris XL200's plus an 800MHz mobile in them, not to mention the cellular/WiFi Cradlepoints. Zero issues.

We just got a Ford F150 Lightning patrol vehicle (fully electric) and we have a multiband radio in it, plus cellular/WiFi Cradlepoint. I've personally driven it. Zero issues.

Hybrid/electric does not automatically mean you'll have RFI issues. Often, the issue is poor installation or antenna location.
Power your radio directly off the battery, and do a proper antenna installation. That fixes 99% of the RFI issues in modern vehicles.