Nuclear cars exist

[antonkr]

You wish nuclear cars were real. The big reason why they aren't is one of the major reasons nuclear power is frowned upon. In short, ka-boom.

 

Its also illegal to own nukes, mini-nukes, or anything nuclear! The government still has some though *grumble grumble*

I wonder why :biggrin:

[Maharg67]

Another big atomic user is of course the American aircraft carriers.

 

Then there are the nuclear powered sattelites in orbit which are now of concern as some have become aged wrecks that could come crashing down to earth.

 

Oh yes, do not forget the Soviet nuclear powered ice-breaker ships.

 

Or the Aussie nuclear powered toothbrush.

[GETbacon]

How 'bout thous nuclear dentures too.

[Syco21]

Atomic flying-machines. Such as the Beta-1 Atomic Powered Bomber of 1959. The Soviets considered a huge atomic powered airship design.

 

Atomic spaceship (various concepts named the Orion).

They're still considering nuclear powered space ships, missiles(not nuclear warheads, nuke powered) and nuke powered planes.

 

Its also illegal to own nukes, mini-nukes, or anything nuclear! The government still has some though *grumble grumble*

http://www.nextenergynews.com/news1/next-energy-news-toshiba-micro-nuclear-12.17b.html

 

For sale to the everyday household with $30,000,000.

[Surenas]

Brave new world on the horizon. Guess I need a six-pack nuka cola now :wacko:

[Vindekarr]

We're forgetting the that there are two sides to the nueclear coin though, dont forget my favorite substance, HYDROGEN!!

 

If, and this is a huge if, but IF we could making working nueclear fusion systems, I think that would be the second industrial revolutions.

 

A fusion engine relies on creating boundlessly hot plasma in a containment field. They arent all that heavy, produce a vast amount of power, and dont create a mushroom cloud when they go kaboom.

 

An example of fusion is the sun: stars are vast nueclear fusion fires, and if we could miniturise a plasma drive(a fusion reactor for the less scifi inclined) then we'd have true renewable, environmentaly friendly, and portable energy in vast amounts.

 

As for nueclear cars, the Ford Nuecleon had one really huge drawback. Aside from the fact that you're driving a radioactive nueclear bomb just awaitin to blow you and your family to Hel, but worse than that, it sucked as a car.

 

With cars, Power To Weight ratio is critical. A small, ultra light car with a mid to low power engine will vastly out perform a three-ton battleship of an SUV, no matter how powerful that SUv is, it's a three ton battleship and no amount of power can overcome that much weight.

 

That's why motorbikes can always out acelerate cars; a motorbike only has 30-270 horsepower, but 190 horsepower in a vehicle thta, with a rider and fuel only weighs 380 kilos, will blows the doors off a 1001 horsepower, three ton Bugatti Veyron at the lights. it's all about having an engine that's just a bit more powerful than you need for the weight you're carrying.

 

The combined weight of the lead shielding, the nueclear fuel, and the reactor, would give you a sixty ton battleship that had all the power of a Suzuki Alto.(which aitn much, even my motorbike has more)