Electricity isn’t the only way to provide alternative power for our cars – here are some other options…
This piece appears in the Sydney Morning Herald (15-Oct) and The Age (16-Oct) as part of our documentary, Drive: Electric – airing Sunday 16-October-2022 at 3pm on Nine.
Say hi to hydrogen
Much like the principle behind nuclear-powered cars, fuel cell vehicles carry their power source with them and convert hydrogen to electricity (think of it as a tiny power station inside the car) which is fed into a small battery battery. That battery then powers electric motors which, in turn, drive the wheels.
The only tailpipe emission from a hydrogen car is water and, unlike EVs which can take a long time to charge, refuelling a hydrogen vehicle via a specialised high-pressure pump takes just minutes.
Hyundai and Toyota both have hydrogen cars in Australia but sales are limited. Instead, a small fleet is being trialled by various official bodies, including the ACT Government in Canberra.
Solar is light-years ahead
Unlike nuclear power, solar cars offer a viable alternative. At least one boutique carmaker – Lightyear in the Netherlands – has greenlit production of a solar-powered car, although with a price tag close to $AU400,000, the Lightyear Zero isn’t for everyone.
Motivation still comes from a battery sending power to electric motors but the addition of five-square metres of solar panels covering the roof, bonnet and rear of the Lightyear Zero help keeps the battery constantly topped-up.
Its Dutch makers claims the Lightyear Zero can theoretically be driven for months without ever charging the battery via an external power source. Lightyear is also working on a more affordable model, said to be priced at around $AU45,000. It’s slated to go into production in 2025.
Going nuclear
The car industry wasn’t immune to the lure of nuclear power in the 1950s with several manufacturers toying with atomic cars. Ford in particular, was lured by the prospect of a car that could drive around 8000km before needing to be refuelled.
The 1958 Ford Nucleon concept never made it past the scale model stage, but in 1962 Ford unveiled its Seattle-ite XXI concept. Its six-wheel design however, wasn’t the most remarkable thing about the Seattle-ite. Its propulsion came from a compact nuclear reactor, the generated electricity powering electric motors that in turn drove the wheels.
The industry soon abandoned the idea of nuclear power with, unsurprisingly, the risk of radiation poisoning at the top of the list of cons.
You can learn more by watching the Drive: Electric documentary this Sunday 16 October at 3pm on Nine. The video will be available here and on 9Now after it airs.
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