Radio still has a place in the electric-vehicle listening mix. In an October 28, 2026 report, Edison Research at SSRS says AM/FM accounts for the largest share of in-car audio time among Americans age 13 and older whose primary vehicle is an EV.
AM/FM represents 42% of that group's in-car listening time, compared with 53% for the overall U.S. population age 13 and older. Streaming music takes a larger share among EV users: 22%, versus 17% overall. The official research summary compares drivers and passengers, not just vehicle owners.
Listening time, not equipment ownership
Share of Ear uses a 24-hour listening diary. Respondents report their listening activity in 15-minute periods, including the source, location and device. Edison lists AM/FM broadcasts and radio streams within its platform coverage. Its methodology overview explains how the study works.
These figures describe shares of listening time. They do not mean 42% of EV users listen to radio, prove that EVs cause different habits, or show what any particular vehicle's stereo can do. The public written summary does not provide enough detail to assess the uncertainty around the EV subgroup's estimate.
Our take: plan around what you actually use
Before choosing a vehicle or upgrading its audio, list the sources you use regularly. If local radio matters to you, check how you will access it. If your routine revolves around phone streaming, try that connection and its controls too.
A bigger screen can be appealing, but the everyday test is simpler: can you reach the music, stations and programs you want without turning every drive into a menu hunt?
Image: Edison Research at SSRS, Share of Ear, Q3 2026. Official chart; EV subgroup n = 160.
