Nuclear-Powered Vehicles
Nuclear power is the future of all propulsion! Or is it? Explore some of the real, conceptual, experimental, or frankly ridiculous nuclear-powered vehicles dreamed up over the decades…
Cars
A car that never has to refuel thanks to its miniature nuclear reactor. What’s not to like? Until you realise that it really wouldn’t be so mini at all. A nuclear reactor capable of providing enough power to propel a 1.4 ton car would weigh in at a whopping 36 tons, according to early estimates. And that’s before you even start thinking about the shielding required to keep the occupants safe. Maybe not such a brilliant idea after all. That didn’t stop designers from dreaming though. Multiple well-known manufacturers presented concept cars at motor shows. Other futuristic technology also featured prominently, including force fields, voice control, and radar guided self-driving.
Cars
A car that never has to refuel thanks to its miniature nuclear reactor. What’s not to like? Until you realise that it really wouldn’t be so mini at all. A nuclear reactor capable of providing enough power to propel a 1.4 ton car would weigh in at a whopping 36 tons, according to early estimates. And that’s before you even start thinking about the shielding required to keep the occupants safe. Maybe not such a brilliant idea after all. That didn’t stop designers from dreaming though. Multiple well-known manufacturers presented concept cars at motor shows. Other futuristic technology also featured prominently, including force fields, voice control, and radar guided self-driving.
Trains
Trains move large numbers of goods and passenger across vast distances all around the world. Yet, this type of transportation did not seem to get the same atomic ‘makeover’ as most others. Just about the only example comes from researchers at the University of Utah, who conducted a feasibility study in the mid 1950s. The proposed locomotive was almost twice as long as a traditional one and required over 200 tons of shielding around the reactor. However, it was unmatched in power output and longevity, being capable of circumnavigating the globe twice without refuelling.
Aircraft
Similar to other types of vehicles, interest in nuclear-powered aircraft primarily stemmed from the possibility of keeping an aircraft flying for very long periods of time. This was of primary interest to the US and Soviet militaries during the Cold War. However, the need for large amounts of shielding was in direct conflict with needing to keep an aircraft light enough to fly. Moreover, the risks of dropping a nuclear reactor from thousands of metres in the air was too high to justify the technology.
Aircraft
Similar to other types of vehicles, interest in nuclear-powered aircraft primarily stemmed from the possibility of keeping an aircraft flying for very long periods of time. This was of primary interest to the US and Soviet militaries during the Cold War. However, the need for large amounts of shielding was in direct conflict with needing to keep an aircraft light enough to fly. Moreover, the risks of dropping a nuclear reactor from thousands of metres in the air was too high to justify the technology.
Civilian Ships
Cars, trains, planes,… Why not ships? Well, it definitely wasn’t for a lack of trying. Four nuclear-powered civilian vessels from four different countries existed throughout history. These were mainly intended for carrying cargo around the world without needing to refuel. While technologically feasible, the support network required to keep these ships going was simply not financially viable. No traditional port in the world would be able to support maintenance or refuelling activities. On top of that, many ports didn’t even let these ships in, due to the perceived risks of carrying nuclear materials. None of these ships are operational anymore, having been decommissioned one by one over the decades.
Civilian Ships
Cars, trains, planes,… Why not ships? Well, it definitely wasn’t for a lack of trying. Four nuclear-powered civilian vessels from four different countries existed throughout history. These were mainly intended for carrying cargo around the world without needing to refuel. While technologically feasible, the support network required to keep these ships going was simply not financially viable. No traditional port in the world would be able to support maintenance or refuelling activities. On top of that, many ports didn’t even let these ships in, due to the perceived risks of carrying nuclear materials. None of these ships are operational anymore, having been decommissioned one by one over the decades.
Spacecraft
How do you keep a spacecraft alive for years in extremely harsh and hostile environments without being able to refuel it? Nuclear power of course! However, these spacecraft use a different kind of nuclear power. The nuclear material does not undergo a fission chain reaction. Instead, the heat given off during natural radioactive decay is captured and converted to electricity which powers the craft. This process keeps the generator very compact, with few moving parts. Perhaps the most famous application of this technology is Curiosity, the mars rover. It is powered by a block of Plutonium-238, and has been roaming Mars since August 2012. Future nuclear powered spacecraft might be able to take us further into the depths of space than any combustion based craft could ever manage.
Spacecraft
How do you keep a spacecraft alive for years in extremely harsh and hostile environments without being able to refuel it? Nuclear power of course! However, these spacecraft use a different kind of nuclear power. The nuclear material does not undergo a fission chain reaction. Instead, the heat given off during natural radioactive decay is captured and converted to electricity which powers the craft. This process keeps the generator very compact, with few moving parts. Perhaps the most famous application of this technology is Curiosity, the mars rover. It is powered by a block of Plutonium-238, and has been roaming Mars since August 2012. Future nuclear powered spacecraft might be able to take us further into the depths of space than any combustion based craft could ever manage.
Tanks
The pictures do the talking for this one. These concepts were beyond goofy and never made it far. Initial trials showed no real advantages over traditional tank designs and projects were terminated. The particularly peculiar look of the TV-8 Concept is due to being capable of amphibious warfare (i.e. it can swim). On top of that, the turret could be airlifted with all crew, ammunition, and equipment inside.
Tanks
The pictures do the talking for this one. These concepts were beyond goofy and never made it far. Initial trials showed no real advantages over traditional tank designs and projects were terminated. The particularly peculiar look of the TV-8 Concept is due to being capable of amphibious warfare (i.e. it can swim). On top of that, the turret could be airlifted with all crew, ammunition, and equipment inside.
Military Vessels
Remember why civilian vessels never really succeeded; too expensive and impractical for commercial use? Well, those factors matter far less to militaries across the world. The upsides of being able to carry out extremely long missions without having to refuel are simply too significant to ignore. That’s why large numbers of aircraft carriers, submarines, icebreakers, destroyers, cruisers, and other types of marine vessels are operated by various countries. The advantages of nuclear power are perhaps most pronounced in nuclear submarines due to being capable of staying submerged almost indefinitely. By the 1990s, there were more reactors being used to power marine vessels than generating electricity for the grid. If you’re interested in finding out more on submarines and marine propulsion, check out our dedicated page.
Military Vessels
Remember why civilian vessels never really succeeded; too expensive and impractical for commercial use? Well, those factors matter far less to militaries across the world. The upsides of being able to carry out extremely long missions without having to refuel are simply too significant to ignore. That’s why large numbers of aircraft carriers, submarines, icebreakers, destroyers, cruisers, and other types of marine vessels are operated by various countries. The advantages of nuclear power are perhaps most pronounced in nuclear submarines due to being capable of staying submerged almost indefinitely. By the 1990s, there were more reactors being used to power marine vessels than generating electricity for the grid. If you’re interested in finding out more on submarines and marine propulsion, check out our dedicated page.
Mobile Reactors
The world is excited about the promise of Small Modular Reactors. The concept is hardly new. In fact, the idea has been taken much further in the past. Not only were they small, they could also move! This means they could be relocated to wherever power was needed, including to very remote places which have no power grid infrastructure. These weren’t just ideas either. Russia has been operating its floating nuclear power plant in Chukotka since 2019. Multiple other nations and corporations are also looking into floating nuclear power plants. Even self-propelled tracked reactors prototypes were built to demonstrate feasibility.
Mobile Reactors
The world is excited about the promise of Small Modular Reactors. The concept is hardly new. In fact, the idea has been taken much further in the past. Not only were they small, they could also move! This means they could be relocated to wherever power was needed, including to very remote places which have no power grid infrastructure. These weren’t just ideas either. Russia has been operating its floating nuclear power plant in Chukotka since 2019. Multiple other nations and corporations are also looking into floating nuclear power plants. Even self-propelled tracked reactors prototypes were built to demonstrate feasibility.
Subterrenes
Last, and probably also least, subterrenes. With a similar naming convention to submarines, subterrenes move underground rather than under water. You can imagine how far that idea got. In principle the idea was using the heat from a nuclear reactor to melt the rock in front of the machine. The subterrene then propels itself through the molten rock, which solidifies into a glass like substance lining the tunnel left behind. Concepts claimed speeds of several metres per second. However, the concept did not survive its clash with reality. No functioning prototype was ever built. While they might look similar, a subterrene has little in common with modern tunnel boring machines.
To find out more about Submarines and Marine Propulsion check out our dedicated page
Ove Schoeppner
Simca Fulgur – Old Concept Cars
Ford Seattle-ite XXI – Old Concept Cars
Ford Nucleon – Ford Motor Company – Fair use
Convair NB-36H – Unknown author – Public Domain
Convair NB-36H – USAF – Public Domain
X-12 – Unknown author – Public Domain
Heat Transfer Reactor Experiment No.3 – Federal Government of the United States – Public Domain
Tory-IIC Nuclear Ramjet – Lawrence Livermore Laboratory – Public Domain
NS Savannah – – NARA – Public Domain
RV Mirai – – Public Domain
Sevmorput – Kinburn · Odessa – CC0
NS Otto Hahn – Bundesarchiv – CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Copernicus – NASA/Pat Rawlings (SAIC) – Public Domain
MMRTG – Kim Shiflett – Public Domain
Curiosity – NASA – Public Domain
Plutonium-238 Pellet – Idaho National Laboratory – CC BY 2.0
Chrysler TV-8 – Chrysler – Fair use
TV-1 Concept – Unknown US military photographer – Public Domain
USS Nimitz – Unknown author – Public Domain
HMS Victorious – LA(phot) Mez Merrill/MOD – OGL v1.0
HMS Vanguard – CPOA(Phot) Tam McDonald – OGL v1.0
Yamal – Tuomas Romu – CC BY-SA 3.0
TES-3 – Nuclear Energy and Technology
Akademik Lomonosov – Elena Dider – CC BY-SA 4.0
Trebelev subterrene – A. Trebelev – Fair use
