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Why can't this work: (universeodon.com)

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

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[-] Umbrias@beehaw.org 0 points 1 year ago

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.

[-] hjbender@universeodon.com 0 points 1 year ago

@Umbrias

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

[-] PowerCrazy@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 year ago

Remove individual cars from the populace reform society so that those car's aren't need.

this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2023
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