Posted on 04/19/2022 9:04:06 AM PDT by Red Badger
Steampunks and Atomic Age nuts rejoice!
WardsAuto reports that Connecticut-based Laser Power Systems is “getting closer” to developing a prototype electric car which develops its power using the radioactive heavy metal Thorium. According to LPS’s CEO, when thorium is heated by an external source, it becomes so dense its molecules give off considerable heat. Small blocks of thorium generate heat surges that are configured as a thorium-based laser… These create steam from water within mini-turbines, generating electricity to drive a car. A 250 MW unit weighing about 500 lbs. (227 kg) would be small and light enough to drop under the hood of a car… Because thorium is so dense, similar to uranium, it stores considerable potential energy: 1 gm of thorium equals the energy of 7,500 gallons (28,391 L) of gasoline. Prototype systems generate electricity within 30 seconds of firing a laser. This can feed power into a car, without the need for storage.
What about radioactivity? LPS says Thorium’s low levels could be blocked with aluminum foil. Yes, tinfoil. Terrorism? Because the Thorium is not superheated, it does not produce fissile material. Where does Thorium come from? Let’s just say the US has the world’s largest known reserves. General safety? The U.S. Geological Survey’s former senior advisor on rare earths calls the concept “both plausible and sensible.” So why aren’t we driving around thorium-laser-turbine EVs already? According to LPS CEO Charles Stevens.
“The issue is having a customized application that is purpose-made,” he says, admitting that developing a portable and usable turbine and generator is proving to be a tougher task than the laser-thorium unit.
“How do you take the laser and put these things together efficiently?” he asks rhetorically. But once that is achieved, “This car will run for a million miles. The car will wear out before the engine. There is no oil, no emissions – nothing.”
Sounds great… but we’re not holding our breath just yet.
We’re going back to Stanley Steamers!
Suppose the biggest deposit of Thorium is in Ukraine?
Or in a small shed in the back yard?
If is being considered for vehicle use, it must be affordable.
But that would mean the average household would be independent of the power grid.
Prog government types would never let that happen on a universal scale.
Gotta keep the peons dependent.
.
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Sure, sharks with lasers on their heads aren't doing it for me.
Paging Kevmo
250MW!
Good grief, sounds more like instead of plugging your car in to charge, the entire city plugs in to your car for their power -
“A 250 MW unit weighing about 500 lbs. (227 kg) would be small and light enough to drop under the hood of a car…”
That’s over 335,000 horsepower. I want one!
There was also uranium and iron in shallow sedimentary strata in Florida, as well as locations around the Gulf of Mexico.
Hmmm...
I wonder what that may point to in the past...?
Doble is where it’s at.
Someone long should’ve been working on that system to make steam more viable for every-day usage. Steam is extremely powerful. Still powers most large things today - especially the “power grid”.
A quick solution that might ease the transition from internal combustion engines would be to use the energy to separate hydrogen from water and use the hydrogen in combustion engines until we don’t need them anymore.
No oil, no emissions – nothing
Biden keeps talking about cars with gas engines but never talks about city street cars in large cities like they had in the 30’ to the 60’s.
Here in LA they bitch like hell when ever somebody wants to install one between the freeways but want another lane.
“A quick solution that might ease the transition from internal combustion engines would be to use the energy to separate hydrogen from water and use the hydrogen in combustion engines until we don’t need them anymore.”
That’s ridiculous. It takes more power to seperate it than you get back out.
“A quick solution that might ease the transition from internal combustion engines would be to use the energy to separate hydrogen from water and use the hydrogen in combustion engines until we don’t need them anymore.”
That’s ridiculous. It takes more power to seperate it than you get back out.
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