They say that an EV's high-voltage drivetrains cause electromagnetic interference that reduces audio quality, forcing the addition of countermeasures that add weight. Not only would this reduce range, they say, but it'd increase costs by up to $70 per vehicle.
Out of all the mandated safety and environmental equipment on new vehicles today they are worried about a 70 dollar radio?
Then there's the fact that EVs don't exactly appeal to AM radio audiences to begin with.
Shocking.
But the battle against AM radio (and the minuscule cost it imposes on carmakers) is one that looks like one the industry will lose. Congress's AM radio bill is supported by both political parties, with 37 sponsors in the Senate and 180 (of 435, or 41 percent) in the House of Representatives. It's also formally supported by current and former FEMA officials, who have urged the current presidential administration to support the bill.
The government's interest is simple: A mere 75 AM radio stations—a cheap, simple, long-range, and ubiquitous form of broadcast—can reach more than 90 percent of the U.S. population in an emergency. It's the backbone of our national emergency alert system for a reason.
Was a bit surprised to learn the effort to keep AM radio alive was bipartisan. The majority of AM stations are conservative talk and Christian music/talk. For once perhaps the politicians are thinking of the safety of Americans.
>They say that an EV's high-voltage drivetrains cause electromagnetic interference that reduces audio quality, forcing the addition of countermeasures that add weight. Not only would this reduce range, they say, but it'd increase costs by up to $70 per vehicle.
Out of all the mandated safety and environmental equipment on new vehicles today they are worried about a 70 dollar radio?
>Then there's the fact that EVs don't exactly appeal to AM radio audiences to begin with.
Shocking.
>But the battle against AM radio (and the minuscule cost it imposes on carmakers) is one that looks like one the industry will lose. Congress's AM radio bill is supported by both political parties, with 37 sponsors in the Senate and 180 (of 435, or 41 percent) in the House of Representatives. It's also formally supported by current and former FEMA officials, who have urged the current presidential administration to support the bill.
>The government's interest is simple: A mere 75 AM radio stations—a cheap, simple, long-range, and ubiquitous form of broadcast—can reach more than 90 percent of the U.S. population in an emergency. It's the backbone of our national emergency alert system for a reason.
Was a bit surprised to learn the effort to keep AM radio alive was bipartisan. The majority of AM stations are conservative talk and Christian music/talk. For once perhaps the politicians are thinking of the safety of Americans.
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