Need FM Radio

[sodamo]

To listen to AM radio on your phone, use apps like TuneIn Radio, iHeartRadio, or myTuner Radio which stream stations online

 

[YDR37]

A mandate is not required here. If an owner wants to install an AM radio, there will be many options.

I mentioned this to a friend of mine and his response was: "Back in the day I attached a "transistor radio" to the dash of my old truck that did not have a radio." Worked great.

$10 on Amazon.

With EVs, it's not that simple. EVs typically generate a lot of electromagnetic interference that affects the AM band. This is why many (most?) EVs sold in the US today don't have traditional AM radios. If you tried attaching a $10 AM radio to the dashboard of a Slate, you might not get anything except static.

A 2023 study found that:

There is an effort in the US Congress to require automakers to maintain AM radio in all vehicles, including new electric vehicles (EVs). However, the nature of EVs and their operating conditions, including acceleration and deceleration, pose a challenge to ensuring electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) with the analog AM band radio. This study, conducted by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), shows that mitigating electromagnetic interference (EMI) in an EV is challenging and could lead to added costs for vehicle manufacturers. The cost of mitigation depends upon the electrical architecture of the vehicle and entails several design and engineering tradeoffs. Automakers may mitigate some EMI through vehicle engineering choices, including shielding, filtering, active noise cancellation, and strategic placement of components. These mitigation techniques can improve analog AM band reception. However, a total vehicle system EMC requirement would need to be included from the beginning of any future EV redesign, if not already considered by the automakers, to eliminate the need for piecemeal late-stage mitigations.

If the bill becomes law, maybe Slate (and other EV manufacturers) can satisfy the legal requirements at minimal cost by including a cheap AM radio, even if it doesn't actually receive anything when the motors are running. But if the bill specifies more functionality, the costs for shielding and other mitigation could be significant.

 

[YDR37]

If the bill becomes law, maybe Slate (and other EV manufacturers) can satisfy the legal requirements at minimal cost by including a cheap AM radio, even if it doesn't actually receive anything when the motors are running. But if the bill specifies more functionality, the costs for shielding and other mitigation could be significant.

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) has taken a position against the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act". Slate is not listed as a member, but Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid are. My guess is that Slate would be opposed as well.

 

[KevinRS]

A mandate is not required here. If an owner wants to install an AM radio, there will be many options.

I mentioned this to a friend of mine and his response was: "Back in the day I attached a "transistor radio" to the dash of my old truck that did not have a radio." Worked great.

$10 on Amazon.

If it is mandated, Slate could offer something like that, as a free option, with a custom case to fit a dash cubby.

 

[Doug T]

With EVs, it's not that simple. EVs typically generate a lot of electromagnetic interference that affects the AM band. This is why many (most?) EVs sold in the US today don't have traditional AM radios. If you tried attaching a $10 AM radio to the dashboard of a Slate, you might not get anything except static.

A 2023 study found that:

If the bill becomes law, maybe Slate (and other EV manufacturers) can satisfy the legal requirements at minimal cost by including a cheap AM radio, even if it doesn't actually receive anything when the motors are running. But if the bill specifies more functionality, the costs for shielding and other mitigation could be significant.

Thanks for the heads up on this. Obviously, I was unaware of the interference issue and the possible legislation. That picture of that ridiculous 1960s style radio I posted seemed a lot funnier before....

 

[YDR37]

Another twist to the story involves HD (digital) AM radio.

Traditional AM/FM broadcasts are analog. But in recent years, some radio stations have started broadcasting "HD" digital signals, along with the traditional analog signal. The HD signal provides superior sound, as long as you have an HD radio that can decode it (not a $10 transistor radio).

The good news is that (1) HD AM works better in EVs than traditional analog AM, and (2) a digital AM receiver satisfies the requirements of the "AM in Every Vehicle Act" (as it is currently written).

The bad news is that (1) HD radios cost more, and (2) there are relatively few HD AM stations out there. HD FM is fairly common; HD AM not so much. You can check for local HD stations by entering your zip code here. The HD FM stations will be listed first; the HD AM stations (if any) will be listed at the bottom. For example, Warsaw Indiana (home of the Slate factory; zip code 46580) can get two HD FM stations (Adult Contemporary and Country formats), but currently has no options for HD AM.

So Slate (and other EV manufacturers) could potentially satisfy the requirements of the Act by providing an HD AM radio (which would probably also include HD FM). However, this would be more expensive than a traditional analog AM radio, and many customers would find that few (or even zero) HD AM stations are available.