In a Future Filled With Electric Cars, AM Radio May Be Left Behind

But “if radio disappears out of cars, that would be really devastating,” she said. “Is this a first step? Is FM next?”

In a letter to 20 car manufacturers published on Dec. 1, Senator Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, requested that they keep AM radio in electric vehicles, describing it as an issue of public safety.

“Despite innovations such as the smartphone and social media, AM/FM broadcast radio remains the most dependable, cost-free, and accessible communication mechanism for public officials to communicate with the public during times of emergency,” Mr. Markey wrote. “As a result, any phaseout of broadcast AM radio could pose a significant communication problem during emergencies.”

Many AM broadcasters say their stations’ news reports are the quickest way for drivers to find out about tornadoes, flash floods and other severe weather. Diane Newman, operations and brand manager at WWL in New Orleans, said that during Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters, the station carried vital information about rescue and recovery efforts.

“There was no Wi-Fi; there were no phone connections,” Ms. Newman said, adding, “You take away AM radios in cars and you take away a lifeline, a connection when the community needs you most.”

Carmakers noted that drivers can still stream AM radio on apps and not all electric vehicles have dropped it. Hyundai, which makes electric vehicles, said in a statement that it had no plans to phase out AM radio. And some observers say the threat from electric vehicles may be overblown.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/10/business/media/am-radio-cars.html