In 1957, significant historical events unfolded, including the conclusion of the Suez Canal crisis and the launch of Sputnik by Russia, marking the beginning of a tech-driven Cold War espionage era. Amidst these developments, Ford was engaged in a groundbreaking project: a concept electric vehicle capable of traveling nearly 5,000 miles on a single charge. Remarkably, this innovation remains visionary even sixty-five years later. What was the technology behind this extraordinary vehicle, and why is it still unavailable? Welcome to the intriguing realm of the Ford Nucleon.

Regrettably, the Nucleon never progressed beyond a scale model, despite its striking design featuring an orange-red metallic finish and smooth 1950s lines. Its unique shape is attributed to its power source—a mini nuclear reactor concealed beneath its unconventional rear.

The initial concept involved a compact uranium reactor generating enough heat to operate a steam engine that would drive the rear wheels. While the water tank would require regular refills, the nuclear fuel could potentially allow for up to 5,000 miles of travel. Some engineers even speculated it might reach 10,000 miles. Subsequent designs replaced the steam engine with an electric drivetrain, which could enable the vehicle to travel 12.5 to 25 times further on a single charge compared to the best Tesla models available today.

However, a significant obstacle existed: the necessary nuclear unit was not yet developed. The prototype was intended to showcase Ford's vision for utilizing such a reactor in the future. During the 1950s, many futurists anticipated that nuclear power would soon directly fuel various modes of transportation, including cars, trains, and even planes.

This era predated widespread nuclear power and international incidents like Chernobyl or Fukushima, leading to an optimistic perception of nuclear technology, free from the shadows of disaster and misuse.

Numerous scientists and engineers endeavored to create miniature nuclear reactors, and some found success with the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG).

RTGs were developed by NASA to power their advanced satellites, operating on principles distinct from traditional nuclear power plants. A conventional nuclear facility rapidly heats water to create steam that drives a turbine, generating electricity efficiently and safely if designed correctly. However, this requires complex systems for cooling, control rods, and reactor geometry, making such reactors too large for vehicle applications.

In contrast, the thermoelectric effect allows for a different type of reactor.

Essentially, by connecting two metal plates with a special charge-carrying material, heating one plate while cooling the other generates a voltage. Conversely, applying voltage causes one plate to heat up while the other cools down.

NASA scientists had a breakthrough using uranium-235 as nuclear fission fuel, which can sustain a chain reaction under certain conditions. When combined with a unique mixture of other uranium isotopes and neutron absorbers, it results in a slow atomic chain reaction capable of producing heat for years without the need for control rods or cooling systems.

NASA encapsulated this slow-reacting nuclear fuel with thermoelectric plates to create the RTG, allowing for a reliable source of atomic power in a compact, lightweight form.

In 1961, the first RTG powered the Navy Transit 4A satellite, paving the way for early satellite navigation for the US Navy. Advanced RTGs have since powered numerous other satellites and rovers, including Voyager, New Horizons, Cassini, and the Curiosity Rover.

For context, the MHW-RTG that powers the Voyager missions stands at 58.3 cm (22.9 inches) tall, 39.7 cm (15.6 inches) wide, and weighs 37.7 kg (83.1 lbs), containing 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs) of plutonium-238 and generating 2.4 kW of power. Voyager 2 is equipped with three MHW-RTGs that remain operational to this day.

In just five years, a prototype car capable of transforming the automotive industry emerged, promising carbon-neutral energy for the masses without compromising range, alongside a nuclear reactor small enough to power it. So why hasn’t anyone combined the two? Why is the nuclear car still a dream?

Four primary factors contribute to this: power, efficiency, radiation, and national security.

The three RTGs on Voyager take up space comparable to a large engine yet yield a modest total power output of 7.2 kW (3 x 2.4 kW), equivalent to roughly 9.65 horsepower—similar to a standard 125cc scooter.

To achieve a 200-horsepower RTG-powered EV, one would require approximately 21 MHW-RTGs, totaling about 791 kg. While RTGs excel in low-power applications over extended periods, they are unsuitable for high-performance vehicles.

RTGs also suffer from inefficiency, with most energy dissipated as heat. In space, they can effectively radiate heat, but this poses challenges on Earth. An RTG must remain cool, as the thermoelectric effect relies on a temperature differential. Consequently, extensive cooling systems would be required, leading to the nuclear vehicle emitting substantial heat—even when stationary. This raises safety concerns.

Moreover, RTGs were designed for use in space, away from human populations. Their operation results in the emission of considerable heat and hazardous radiation. Making them safe for everyday use would necessitate robust radiation shielding, resulting in added weight and complexity.

Even if we could design a large vehicle to accommodate the size and weight of this substantial RTG power unit, challenges would still remain.

The MHW-RTG contains 4.5 kg of plutonium-238. While this isotope cannot be used to create an atomic bomb, it could facilitate a 'dirty bomb.' Such devices utilize explosions to disperse plutonium-238 over a wide area, leading to severe nuclear contamination.

Our bodies mistake plutonium-238 for calcium, leading to its accumulation in bones, resulting in harmful radiation exposure. Consequently, anyone nearby during a detonation or downwind would face the risk of inhaling plutonium-238, leading to gradual radioactive poisoning. The implications of such a disaster could be catastrophic.

Each RTG contains enough material to create a significant dirty bomb, and with 21 RTGs in a car, the security risks associated with distributing such quantities of nuclear material to the public are substantial.

In conclusion, while Ford’s innovative Nucleon could have been developed in the 1960s, the result would have been a massive, heavy, slow, and potentially hazardous vehicle. Nuclear energy, when harnessed responsibly, promises a revolutionary source of carbon-neutral power, yet it remains one of humanity's most perilous technologies. We must tread carefully regarding access to such power.

While I lament the absence of an electric vehicle capable of traveling 5,000 miles on a single charge, I am relieved that hazardous nuclear materials are not readily available to just anyone.