Breaking News: When was the last time you listened to AM radio? More specifically, when was the last time you listened to it voluntarily? If you drive an electric vehicle (EV), the answer might be “never.”
The Quiet Disappearance of AM Radio
This might say more about you as a consumer than the state of broadcasting, but in reality, the vast majority of EV owners drive without even noticing the absence of an AM tuner. While this feature is also disappearing from some gasoline-powered vehicles, it is more commonly omitted in EVs because their powertrains generate significant radio interference, to which AM frequencies are particularly susceptible. But don’t worry, the U.S. Congress is taking action.
Emergencies and Subscriptions: The Public Rationale
As explained by Stephanie Brinley, Associate Director at S&P AutoIntelligence, the motivation for preserving the AM band lies in its use for emergency alerts and the fact that listening does not require a paid subscription. Therefore, this debate is more about public service than consumer interest.
Did the Smartphone Era Mark the End of AM?
The primary reason for wanting to maintain AM radio reception – the emergency alert system – has become less critical in the age of mobile phones. The U.S. government eventually acknowledged this reality by passing the “Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act” in 2015. This law aims to build a modern alert system that can adapt to future communication technologies, target geographic areas, and ensure redundancy and privacy protection.
In other words, we no longer need to rely on AM radio. The only reason we still do is that the alternative system has not yet been fully implemented, or even defined.
Congress Mandates Amid Questionable Necessity
This hasn’t stopped Congress from spending years in the early stages of mandating AM radios in all new vehicles. One version of the bill recently passed committee with “overwhelming” support.
For a Congress traditionally hesitant about regulation, such interest suggests significant public backing. However, experts unanimously agree that the lack of AM radio does not deter purchases.
Expert Opinions and Market Realities
“It is highly unlikely that consumers would give up on an EV due to the absence of an AM band,” confirms Stephanie Brinley, while adding that this is not the core of the debate for lawmakers.
Robbie DeGraff, Product & Consumer Insights Manager at AutoPacific, shares a similar view: “There are no specific numbers on consumer demand for AM radio… I don’t think its absence is a decisive factor.”
“Most car buyers and owners today stream content on their phones, listen to satellite radio, or switch between FM stations,” he adds.
A Generational Issue
Part of the answer lies in the average buyer’s age. The adoption of electric vehicles is stronger among younger, more tech-savvy demographics, which hardly overlap with traditional AM radio listeners.
“Certainly, there are demographic groups, such as some Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, who regularly listen to AM radio,” DeGraff acknowledges. “But I don’t think its absence is significant enough to deter them from buying a car.”