6 ms·

Maybe it's harsh but if you can't be bothered to get equipment necessary for survival why should anyone else care?

maerF0x0 3y ago
What I'd like to see is a polling effort to see what percent of people have and know how to use their AM radio, vs percent with smart phones. A quick google suggests 87% of the world's population has a smart phone. Less than that percent of people own a car (cause kids dont have cars, maybe access to a car is sufficient?) Of course all this also comes down to resiliency and the better question of "Why not both?" -- a quick search on alibaba suggests you can get an AM radio for about $2, I doubt it adds more than $2 to a car manufacturer's cost (fully loaded with engineers parts distribution etc)
- e28eta 3y ago
  Other articles on this topic I’ve read mention EMI being a problem, and so I suspect it’s more than $2. For example, from the Verge in March: > Ford was joined by BMW, Mazda, Polestar, Rivian, Tesla, Volkswagen, and Volvo in staking out the position that AM radio is incompatible with EVs, citing electromagnetic interference from the powertrain. Indeed, Tesla made this same argument when it removed AM radio from its vehicles back in 2018. > According to a Vice article from 2016, the problem is when the interference gets picked up by the radio: >> EVs are powered by a rechargeable battery, electric motor, and a frequency converter that controls how much power the car’s electrical motors put out by turning voltage on and off thousands of times a second, basically chopping up energy. This process causes electromagnetic interference that gets picked up by the radio. I’m in favor of AM radios in cars
  - fomine3 3y ago
    Mitsubishi Electric failed to ship AM car radio. it seems that it's not very easy part. https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2020/pdf/1106.pdf https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2020/pdf/1106.pdf
  - wkat4242 3y ago
    If it requires more EMI shielding that's a good thing. EM interference isn't just a problem for the car itself. But whatever is around it too.
    - rnk 3y ago
      I have a Tesla from that timeframe and it has an am radio and it just works. Somehow they managed this in 2012. Others can do it too. Software is not always easy but we persist.
      - wkat4242 3y ago
        EM Shielding is not high-tech by the way, so it's something that could always be done. What is needed is simply using quality metal cans, shielded cables, metal braided tape etc. The problem is not the tech. It's cost savings.
- bombcar 3y ago
  If you've ever had to try to explain something to someone on how to use a smartphone in a rush, it can be absolutely painful. Whereas in an emergency situation the cop can lean in the window, turn the car radio on to the correct AM frequency, and tell the driver to listen for updates.
renewedrebecca 3y ago
If you need someone to explain to you why you should care about other human beings, you might be the problem.
- deprecative 3y ago
  That's not what I said though is it? I said if someone cannot be bothered to do the bare minimum to survive why should anyone care about that plight? I didn't say if someone (physically / mentally) cannot do the bare minimum. It's like if you're starving to death and there's a perfectly prepared meal right in front of you. It's healthy, free, and clean. All you have to do is eat it. Should anyone care if you don't eat it and suffer the consequences? No.
ComplexSystems 3y ago
Smartphones are certainly not "necessary for survival" by any means.
- deprecative 3y ago
  I didn't mention smartphones. I said equipment necessary for survival.
theodric 3y ago
Because you can't fucking afford it. Not everybody makes 7 figures.
- dragonmost 3y ago
  I don't agree with previous post but I don't make 7 figures and still own both a car and a phone.
  - rnk 3y ago
    In the US, avg income is something like 55k - so 5.5 figures?, but most people manage a car and phone. But we can't design society assuming everyone has one of course.
Am4TIfIsER0ppos 3y ago
The smartphone is a government spy device so its not surprising they want to make more reasons to get one.
last_responder 3y ago
So if a disaster strikes and we meet and i have more equipment than you do I will be sure to remind you of this post as i walk away leaving you desperate.

What I'd like to see is a polling effort to see what percent of people have and know how to use their AM radio, vs percent with smart phones. A quick google suggests 87% of the world's population has a smart phone. Less than that percent of people own a car (cause kids dont have cars, maybe access to a car is sufficient?) Of course all this also comes down to resiliency and the better question of "Why not both?" -- a quick search on alibaba suggests you can get an AM radio for about $2, I doubt it adds more than $2 to a car manufacturer's cost (fully loaded with engineers parts distribution etc)

e28eta 3y ago
Other articles on this topic I’ve read mention EMI being a problem, and so I suspect it’s more than $2. For example, from the Verge in March: > Ford was joined by BMW, Mazda, Polestar, Rivian, Tesla, Volkswagen, and Volvo in staking out the position that AM radio is incompatible with EVs, citing electromagnetic interference from the powertrain. Indeed, Tesla made this same argument when it removed AM radio from its vehicles back in 2018. > According to a Vice article from 2016, the problem is when the interference gets picked up by the radio: >> EVs are powered by a rechargeable battery, electric motor, and a frequency converter that controls how much power the car’s electrical motors put out by turning voltage on and off thousands of times a second, basically chopping up energy. This process causes electromagnetic interference that gets picked up by the radio. I’m in favor of AM radios in cars
- fomine3 3y ago
  Mitsubishi Electric failed to ship AM car radio. it seems that it's not very easy part. https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2020/pdf/1106.pdf https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/news/2020/pdf/1106.pdf
- wkat4242 3y ago
  If it requires more EMI shielding that's a good thing. EM interference isn't just a problem for the car itself. But whatever is around it too.
  - rnk 3y ago
    I have a Tesla from that timeframe and it has an am radio and it just works. Somehow they managed this in 2012. Others can do it too. Software is not always easy but we persist.
    - wkat4242 3y ago
      EM Shielding is not high-tech by the way, so it's something that could always be done. What is needed is simply using quality metal cans, shielded cables, metal braided tape etc. The problem is not the tech. It's cost savings.
bombcar 3y ago
If you've ever had to try to explain something to someone on how to use a smartphone in a rush, it can be absolutely painful. Whereas in an emergency situation the cop can lean in the window, turn the car radio on to the correct AM frequency, and tell the driver to listen for updates.

renewedrebecca 3y ago

If you need someone to explain to you why you should care about other human beings, you might be the problem.

deprecative 3y ago
That's not what I said though is it? I said if someone cannot be bothered to do the bare minimum to survive why should anyone care about that plight? I didn't say if someone (physically / mentally) cannot do the bare minimum. It's like if you're starving to death and there's a perfectly prepared meal right in front of you. It's healthy, free, and clean. All you have to do is eat it. Should anyone care if you don't eat it and suffer the consequences? No.

ComplexSystems 3y ago

Smartphones are certainly not "necessary for survival" by any means.

deprecative 3y ago
I didn't mention smartphones. I said equipment necessary for survival.

theodric 3y ago

Because you can't fucking afford it. Not everybody makes 7 figures.

dragonmost 3y ago
I don't agree with previous post but I don't make 7 figures and still own both a car and a phone.
- rnk 3y ago
  In the US, avg income is something like 55k - so 5.5 figures?, but most people manage a car and phone. But we can't design society assuming everyone has one of course.

Am4TIfIsER0ppos 3y ago

The smartphone is a government spy device so its not surprising they want to make more reasons to get one.

last_responder 3y ago

So if a disaster strikes and we meet and i have more equipment than you do I will be sure to remind you of this post as i walk away leaving you desperate.