Electric vehicles (EV) are all the rage now, but could they be replaced by the next rage—atomic vehicles (AT)? The concept isn’t new, Chrysler actually came up with a concept for an atomic-powered tank back in the 1950s. Combining Chrysler’s experience in producing tanks and helped in uranium enrichment for our first nukes, it seemed like a no-brainer to funnel those technologies into an atomic-powered tank.
Chrysler’s AT tank concept was a 25-ton piece of hardware (about half the weight of a Sherman tank) that could roll on conventional tank treads on land or navigate through water propelled by a jet drive . It was dubbed the TV-8. An unusual feature was that the tank’s armament, engine and crew were all packed into the turret which alone weight 15 tons and was watertight. Video provided the view to the outside world. ‘Course, with its atomic reactor as the energy source, the tank theoretically had unlimited range—a big advantage over EVs that need regular battery recharging in order to keep going. The reactor would power twin electric motors.
‘Course there was the little problem of what would happen if the tank was hit and the unleashed radiation was spewed upon friend and foe alike. We’re sure that problem would have been solved the same way that Chrysler solved the problem of 5 MPH bumpers and meeting automotive emissions regulations while upping performance.
But the TV-8 was never to be. The Army tested the prototype and felt that the concept didn’t offer any edge to the current production tanks in the fleet, and they killed the program after two years. Time to revisit AV technology for cars?
