House passes bill forcing automakers to keep AM radio in EVs
The United States House of Representatives approved legislation mandating that car manufacturers equip all new passenger automobiles with factory-installed AM broadcast equipment, encompassing battery-powered electric models.
The mandate requires automotive manufacturers to deliver functional receivers directly from assembly lines across the United States market.
Electric powertrains generate severe frequency disturbances that disrupt analog broadcast bands. Engineering teams at Rivian and other manufacturers struggle to eliminate this persistent electrical noise.
The Senate must approve the measure.
Modern vehicle buyers increasingly rely on digital streaming services, leaving traditional analog receivers neglected on the dashboard. Millions of commuter journeys across the United States now proceed without the driver ever accessing local broadcast channels. Federal legislators now plan to halt this steady technological phaseout.
Lawmakers advanced the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to compel automotive corporations to retain standard receivers across product lineups. The legislative text forbids companies from levying standalone fees for analog broadcast hardware inside zero-emission vehicles.
Vehicle motor components directly interfere with incoming amplitude modulation transmission signals during daily operation.
Battery-powered systems employ alternating current motors alongside high-frequency power electronics that switch immense currents during acceleration cycles. These electrical components emit heavy electromagnetic waves along identical spectrum bands utilized by commercial stations. Consequently, the operating hardware degrades incoming sound reception.
Unwanted acoustic feedback produces persistent buzzing and high-pitched whine inside passenger cabins, prompting Tesla to remove standard hardware modules. Brands including Mazda, Polestar, Volkswagen, BMW, and Volvo removed receiver hardware from selected electric models.
Automakers can deploy signal-filtering technology or reroute cable harnesses to isolate vulnerable antenna components. Industry trade associations oppose these engineering modifications because adding physical components increases manufacturing costs. Congress prohibited separate charges by stipulating that broadcast receivers must remain included in the passenger motor vehicle for no additional or separate monetary fee, payment, or surcharge, beyond the base price set by the retailer.
Sponsors framed the requirement as an indispensable conduit for the federal Emergency Alert System during regional crisis situations. Although 98 percent of citizens maintain wireless mobile handsets, 317 congressional representatives endorsed the automotive mandate.
Automobile manufacturers face technical hurdles before production lines adapt to federal broadcasting requirements.
