Why can't this work:
Why can't this work:
Why can't this work:
NASA uses plutonium-238 to generate electricity for satellites in its deep space missions. Using this general approach, can a car battery be continuously charged and that battery used to power a car? Sure, new tech would have to be developed, but is this idea impossible?
@arxiv_physics @physics@lemmy.ml @LHCbPhysics @dianna @physics@scipost.social #physics
The idea is in principle fine. Using any power source you can make something resembling a car. From ethanol to gasoline to rocket fuel to a bunch of cats on a hamster wheel and the food you give them.
A plutonium car would be a bit much. For one, cars aren't using a very small load of power continuously, they use a lot of power intermittently.
Two, plutonium is expensive, we get most of it by literally making it from other elements essentially atom by atom. This makes it a bit more expensive per joule than gasoline.
Three, plutonium is decently dangerous.
Etc etc.
Technically possible, not a practical alternative.
The idea is the same as an EV, with the plutonium continuously charging a super battery that runs the car.
You're right - the cost has to come down. That happened during the PC development, and we need similar tech geniuses for this.
Plutonium-238 can't be made into a bomb, but any radioactive material is decently dangerous. Where are those tech geniuses?
Got a better idea? The climate won't wait.
@arxiv_physics @physics@lemmy.ml @LHCbPhysics @Dianna @physics@scipost.social #physics
Remove individual cars from the populace reform society so that those car's aren't need.