An advantage of those who own a vehicle with a Thorium-powered car engine is that they will never have to refuel it, not even once. The vehicle will have worn out long before the fuel chemical is gone.
The advantage of thorium use is that it can act as a life-long energy source. It might even outlive the owner of the car. That is why Laser Power Systems has begun designing thorium-powered car engine – a brand new concept in vehicle making.
Laser Power Systems ahead of the times with new auto frontier
It must be known that the element Thorium is highly radioactive. The team at Laser Power Systems utilizes a minute amount needed in order to build a laser beam strong enough to heat water that will produce steams, ultimately powering the turbine.
Considered to be one of the densest matters on Earth, even the smallest amount of thorium is able to pack over 20 million times more compact energy than coal of the same amount. In other words, thorium is a perfect, highly efficient, source of energy.
Thorium involves a fuel cycle that is nuclear in nature, utilizing the isotope of thorium known as the 232Th as main material. Once inside the nuclear reactor, 232Th will change into fissile uranium isotope 233U, with the latter acting as the nuclear fuel.
Thorium significantly more efficient energy source than coal
Unlike the natural form of uranium, natural thorium only has small traces of the fissile materials. This amount, however, is not sufficient enough to initiate a potentially deadly nuclear chain reaction.
Laser Power Systems as well as many other companies favour Thorium use over all other natural elements, including the well known Uranium. It is because Thorium is one of the most common elements found in the Earth’s crust. In fact, Thorium is about 4 times more abundant than natural Uranium.
Because of the new thorium-powered car design by Laser Power Systems, it is expected that other companies will follow suit. Demand for the element is predicted to increase, which will spike its price – especially since current established reserves are limited in quantity.
Thorium-powered cars expected not to be a reality any time soon
However, Dr. Charles Stevens, Laser Power Systems Chief Executive Officer was quick to reiterate that it is difficult imagine a fully functional thorium-powered car to become a reality in the near future. “Cars are not our primary interest”, said Dr. Stevens, “the automakers don’t want to buy them”.
Laser Power Systems CEO went on to explain that majority of members in the car industry currently focus on gaining huge profits from traditional gas engine models. Despite the fact thorium technology is indeed a significantly more efficient source than traditional methods of power, it is predicted the auto industry may need a few more decades to change directions.
Still, Laser Power Systems is serious about making the benefits of thorium use known. It is committed to building the engine in order to prove that the element is a viable option to power the whole world.
Laser Power Systems added that a thorium engine, the size of a small air conditioning set, will be able to deliver affordable power to businesses, factories, manufacturing plants, and even towns in many places in the world without ever having to connect to a grid. LPS believe that in the future, people will depend on thorium when it comes to powering their homes.
