Can a car run on nuclear power?

In the 1950s, Ford produced a concept car called the Nucleon, intended to run on nuclear power, but the vehicle was never produced. See more nuclear power pictures.
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In the 1950s, perhaps the height of the so-called Atomic Age, Ford developed a concept car called the Ford Nucleon. This nuclear-powered automobile was designed, according to Ford, based on the assumption that future nuclear reactors would be smaller, safer, lighter and more portable [Source: Ford]. The design called for a power capsule located in the rear of the car, charging stations replacing gas stations and 5,000 miles of driving before recharging or replacing the fuel. As is the case with many concept cars, Ford never built the Nucleon -- only a model car half the size of a normal car [Source: Ford].

Nuclear Power Image Gallery

It may seem like an impossible quest, or something from a science fiction movie, but nuclear-powered cars are worth considering, especially with the ongoing energy and climate crises. Given these challenges, some experts think that the use of nuclear power, in various forms, will make a comeback in the near future. When done properly, nuclear power is relatively safe, clean and affordable. So why not use it for cars?

To get an idea, think of how countries have employed nuclear reactors for uses beyond traditional nuclear power plants, submarines and aircraft carriers. Some uses of specialized reactors include providing heating in extremely cold climates and trying to convert coal into clean-burning gas. Both the former U.S.S.R. and the United States used small reactors to power satellites, though the practice became controversial because of satellites' propensity to fall back to Earth and break apart. These are examples of research reactors, and they may provide scientists with some ideas of how to adapt nuclear reactors for use in other vehicles.

One such possibility is nuclear-fueled hydrogen -- using nuclear energy to create clean, safe, affordable hydrogen fuel. Nuclear reactors could also power stations where motorists charge highly efficient batteries. Finally, scientists could create a miniature nuclear power plant and stick it in a car.

On the next page, we'll take a closer look at the benefits and explore some of the problems with a potential nuclear-powered car.

Pros and Cons of A Nuclear-Powered Car

Due to issues with shielding, weight and radioactivity, for the most part, it's unlikely that one of these will be powering your car any time soon.
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There are some great benefits to a nuclear-powered car. It would rarely need to be refueled -- perhaps every three to five years [Source: Stanford University]. Highly enriched uranium is so potent that just one pound can power a submarine or aircraft carrier. Even smaller amounts could conceivably power a car. Assuming the car is adequately shielded (a subject we'll discuss later), the car would put out almost no emissions. And forget turning the ignition: Your nuclear-powered car would be always on -- although that means it would likely need batteries to store the energy constantly being produced by the miniplant.

Perhaps the main thing standing in the way of creating a nuclear-powered car is this: The power source is radioactive, so this vehicle would require lots of shielding. Without proper shielding, the radioactivity of the power source could kill people in and near the car, putting a damper on any commute.

Nuclear power plants and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and subs all employ heavy shielding. Nuclear power plants generally have three layers of shielding in addition to the containment structure, which is made of concrete several feet thick and houses the reactor. U.S. law requires most reactors to have these layers of shielding and containment. Government-operated reactors are an exception, though the exact amount of shielding used on aircraft carriers and submarines remains classified.

With all of this shielding needed to protect against radioactivity, expect your nuclear-powered car to be extremely heavy. Reproducing the shielding of a nuclear reactor on an appropriate scale may make the car practically immobile. The shielding must also be resistant to earthquakes and other trauma and must be airtight so that air laden with radioactive molecules can't escape.

When someone mentions a nuclear-powered car, the danger of radioactivity likely comes to mind. Having radioactive material readily available is a security and public health concern. While not all fuel used in nuclear reactors can be immediately used in a nuclear bomb, even uranium that's not highly enriched could be used in a dirty bomb or other harmful radiological device. Our nuclear-powered car would have to be immune from such tampering. Then there's also the question of what happens in a car accident. Would the shielding stay intact, even in a catastrophic collision?


Fin­ally, energy companies, car manufacturers and the government would need to collaborate to establish the infrastructure and a standardized process to dispose of spent fuel, which would be highly radioactive for hundreds of years. Other problems associated with nuclear power include the startup costs and time (up to 10 years) for new plants. Then there is the fear of accidents and the need to safely dismantle old plants and dispose of spent fuel and waste. The rekindled interest in nuclear energy has also driven up the price of uranium. The logistics and costs of such an endeavor may prove prohibitive.

With all of these challenges in mind, nuclear-powered cars likely remain far out of reach, at least made of today's technology. But for lots more information on other uses of nuclear technology and the future of automobiles, explore the links on the next page.

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

More Great Links


  • "Ford's Mid-century Cars Forecast Future Vehicles." Ford Motor Company.
  • "Nuclear Reactor." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
  • "The Nuclear Fission Power Plant." ThinkQuest.
  • Dunn, Philip. "Safe Power and Green Hydrogen Fuel." PhysOrg. Dec. 11, 2005.
  • McCarthy, John. "Frequently Asked Questions About Nuclear Energy." Stanford University.
  • Mutolo, Paul. "Nuclear automobiles, while possible, aren't really a good idea." Ask a Scientist. Cornell Center for Materials Research. Jan. 10, 2007.
  • Stevenson, Tom. "Oil boffins go nuclear." The Telegraph. March 13, 2007.
  • Zaitsev, Yury. "Nuclear Power in Space." RIA Novosti. Aug. 15, 2007.