If you own one of these futuristic, thorium-powered cars, you’ll never need to refuel for the next 100 years. Thorium is a super-dense, long-lasting energy source that it would outlive the vehicle, or even outlive the owner of the car.
The Laser Power Systems company has developed a concept for a thorium-powered car engine. They use bits of the chemical “to build a laserbeam that heats water, produces steam, and powers an energy-producing turbine.”
A tiny sample of thorium packs 20 million times more energy source than a similarly-sized sample of coal.
But scientists at Laser Power Systems won’t be expecting to sign a contract with Ford or other automobile company anytime soon. “Cars are not our primary interest,” the CEO of LPS, Dr. Charles Stevens said. “The automakers don’t want to buy them.”
The automobile industry, he said, is focusing too much on making money off of gas engines. It will take decades for thorium to be used enough in other industries that car manufacturers will seriously consider using thorium technology.
Watch the video below.
(via Mashable)
Some people may be wary of using thorium as an energy source because it’s radioactive. But Steven assures everyone that any such worry is unfounded.
“The radiation that we develop off of one of these things can be shielded by a single sheet off of aluminum foil,” Stevens said. “You will get more radiation from one of those dental X-rays than this.”
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