[GRLUG] OFF TOPIC Electric Car

[Tim Schmidt]

On Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 10:29 AM, Collin Kidder <adderd at kkmfg.com> wrote:
> Yeah, the problem with Radioisotope generators is that they are not very
> high power usually. You need more than a few hundred watts to power a
> car. So you'd have to have a really big one or many small ones. At that
> rate you'd get your third eyeball pretty quick.

Like any other generator, the most sensible way to use it would be a
hybrid style system.  The RTG will be putting out continuous power
24/7 regardless of your driving habits.  Soak up some of that power
with super caps, batteries, a flywheel, hydrogen separation and
capture via electrolysis, whatever...  and use that the run the car.

But yeah...  the radioactivity makes it unsuitable in the first place.

--tim