The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Mandatory AM Radio In Cars Bill Passes Major Hurdle In U.S.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 18, 2024 12:53 pm

It's not a done deal yet, but with the end of the session in sight as the U.S. election nears, there's some need for speed to ensure every car - even EVs - keeps a mandatory AM radio.

The bill to ensure this was approved by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Cttee. on Wednesday, and it now heads to the House for final approval. The vote in favour was pretty overwhelming - 45-2.

It all comes as electric vehicle manufacturers complain their cars generate too much noise to make AM reception possible, and it will raise the price of their vehicles to install the necessary filters.

House committee approves bill requiring new cars to have AM radio

Here's my question: if this does pass in the U.S., would Canada be forced to follow suit? Or would our future cars north of the border potentially be without AM?

**Posted by paterson1** September 18, 2024 2:27 pm

Could be that some vehicles here wouldn't have AM and others would. Unless the Canadian government makes it mandatory I doubt that all would have AM radio. Any vehicles made here destined for the US market would need to comply if the US government goes ahead with the bill, but that doesn't necessarily mean the same car in Canada would have the AM radio.

Vehicles sold in Canada have differed than their US counterparts in the past. Things like daytime running lights have been mandatory here for almost 35 years, and anti theft immobilizers also mandatory here long before the US. We also had heftier starter motors and alternators because of the more prominent and colder winter weather.

When speed limit signs in Canada changed to metric in the late 70's carmakers changed the dashboard speedometer gauges for cars sold here to make the km/h prominent over mph.

**Posted by Radiowiz** September 18, 2024 2:39 pm

BA ZA ZZZAZA...what is the point in forcing AM to be in a car if the stations don't pick up?

**Posted by RadioActive** September 18, 2024 2:45 pm

Supposedly, the filters will block the noise - but it adds significant cost to the car.

I still think the solution is to offer it as an option. Those who want it will pay, those who don't, won't.

**Posted by RadioAaron** September 18, 2024 2:52 pm

They could also just include AM but not the filters.

**Posted by RadioActive** September 18, 2024 2:55 pm

There would be no point and I expect any legislation would include mandatory filters to make reception possible. Otherwise why bother?

**Posted by Dial Twister** September 18, 2024 3:01 pm

RadioActive wrote:
Supposedly, the filters will block the noise - but it adds significant cost to the car.

'Certain' models of a major North American brand, built from fibreglass, have had ignition shielding on all radio-equipped cars, for that very reason.

**Posted by RadioAaron** September 18, 2024 3:05 pm

RadioActive wrote:
There would be no point and I expect any legislation would include mandatory filters to make reception possible. Otherwise why bother?

To comply without the cost. Bury deep in a menu too. This type of malicious compliance is common across many industries.

**Posted by turkeytop** September 18, 2024 8:44 pm

So, if an electric vehicle is passing me on the road, would it cause interference to my AM radio?

**Posted by RadioAaron** September 18, 2024 9:20 pm

turkeytop wrote:
So, if an electric vehicle is passing me on the road, would it cause interference to my AM radio?

At a low-level and briefly? Probably, yeah.

**Posted by darcyh** September 19, 2024 12:02 am

Mass produced 'filter' circuits would not add much to the overall cost of the AM radio, maybe $20 or less when you are adding them to thousands or millions of receivers.

Would the radios be used in vehicles destined for the Canadian market? Probably. It would not make much sense to have two models of radios that would have to fit in the same dash form factor.

**Posted by mace** September 19, 2024 8:45 am

RadioAaron wrote:
turkeytop wrote:
So, if an electric vehicle is passing me on the road, would it cause interference to my AM radio?
At a low-level and briefly? Probably, yeah.

I can confirm this is true. Same with Hybrid and Electric TTC buses. Interference is mildly annoying and disappears once you pass the offending vehicle.

**Posted by andysradio** September 19, 2024 7:24 pm

darcyh wrote:
Would the radios be used in vehicles destined for the Canadian market? Probably. It would not make much sense to have two models of radios that would have to fit in the same dash form factor.

I doubt the radios would be any different north or south of the border. It will be the vehicles themselves. They will have to be modified in such a way as to block any generated interference from reaching the antenna using shielding and/or filters. No interference can enter the radio via the antenna. Once the interference is there it is difficult if not near impossible to remove.

Last edited by andysradio (September 19, 2024 7:28 pm)

**Posted by RadioAaron** September 19, 2024 7:27 pm

andysradio wrote:
darcyh wrote:
Would the radios be used in vehicles destined for the Canadian market? Probably. It would not make much sense to have two models of radios that would have to fit in the same dash form factor.
I doubt the radios would be any different north or south of the border. It will be the vehicles themselves. They will have to be modified in such a way as to block any generated interference from reaching the antenna.

Yes, it's not about a simple shield for the radio.