Is Nuclear Energy viable for Alternate Energy in Surface Transport ? ?

Question

Think of like a Nuclear Catridge installed in the vehicle (Auto/Ships/Trains) and runs for life or possibly charge at specified Nuclear Stations. How to operate this safely without hazarding environment.

Answer 1

The Navy already has nuclear powered subs and aircraft carriers. But to answer your question  - No, nuclear energy is not viable for use in surface transport. The cost to develop/refine the technology and the cost to implement it safely makes it totally NOT viable.  

Answer 2

The public would probably not want people driving around in nuclear powered cars or trains since, accidents would suddenly become much more disasterous.

A safer alternative would be to use a halfnium isomer that only emits energy when bombarded by x-rays.  Then if there were any problems the x-rays would stop and the material would be safe (relativly)

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn34...

They are currently looking into this technology for Nuclear UAVs

Answer 3

Theoretically this could be done with nuclear powered thermoelectric device (something that turns heat into electricity directly). However, it would not be very powerful (think golf cart), would require many pounds of bomb-grade plutonium, and would be ridiculously radioactive. That's why the technology is only used in outer space.