Justin Rue
CE 2011.05
Professor McKenna
May 10, 2021
Speech #2 Why Nuclear-Powered Vehicles are the Future (Script)
Hello everyone and good afternoon, I hope you all are doing well. So today I will be
explaining why I have reasons to believe that nuclear-powered vehicles are going to be the
future. It is important to note that nuclear power is cleaner than fossil power, much much more
efficient while being cost effective, and is potentially less dangerous than the fossil fuels we use
today. Before I start, I would like to give you all a brief description on what exactly nuclear
power is. Nuclear power put simply, is the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called nuclear
fission, which in turn produces nuclear energy.
Transition: Now that you all have a better understanding of the type of energy we are dealing
with, I will begin with the most important priority, our own safety.
When it comes to nuclear power and the threats it imposes on people’s safety, the
results may shock you. Truly, the only real threat when using a nuclear-powered car is long
exposure to possible radiation leaks. However, according to CDC (the Center of Disease
Control), uranium decay emits alpha particles that are not as dangerous as other radioactive
elements because our skin does a great job at blocking them and bouncing them back off, but
of course the protective sphere encasing the uranium would always be carefully monitored. But
a question that I, myself, had while coming up with this topic was “Well what if someone got
into an accident? Wouldn’t there be some sort of nuclear meltdown or an explosion?” After
researching the topic, the answer was simply no. An article from Stanford University suggests
that a vehicle requires a mere 0.061 pounds of uranium as fuel. This is not nearly enough to
cause an explosion or any type of deadly meltdown. So, not only is nuclear power a viable
energy source for transportation, but it also appears that it would be a safer alternative than
the currently used gasoline.
Transition: Not only is nuclear power safer, but it is also better for the environment.
Nuclear fission provides energy without releasing nasty greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide and monoxide. Well then, so what? We get rid of the air pollution, but now
were stuck with all this radioactive waste? Not necessarily. The greatest environmental
advantage that nuclear power has over fossil fuels is its ability to be reprocessed and used again
and again. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA for short, “motor vehicles
collectively cause 75% of carbon monoxide pollution along with one-third of the total air
pollution that produces smog in the US.
Transition: As if that were not enough reason to prove nuclear power’s superiority over fossil
fuels, maybe the fact that it is far more efficient, will.
It honestly gets kind of ridiculous when comparing the efficiency of nuclear power to
your everyday gasoline as well as the costs. Now remember earlier, when I said that your
vehicle would only need a measly 0.061 pounds of uranium to fuel itself. According to the study
done at Stanford, this will produce enough energy to power your vehicle for 15 years. Take into
consideration that on average, Americans use about 1,000 gallons of gas every year. When
using the average gas prices, we see here in California, it appears to be around $4.10 per gallon,
this means that on average, one person would spend $61,500 on gas alone in those 15 years.
Here is the biggest surprise of them all. As of March 2021, uranium costs $28.33 per pound. To
keep your vehicle running for 15 years, it would cost you a whopping $1.70.
Concluding Statement: And this is why I believe that nuclear-powered vehicles are the future.
Thank you all for listening.
Work Cited
Durkin, Claire. Nuclear Powered Passenger Vehicles, Stanford University, 2011,
large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph241/durkin1/.
Rogers, Robyn. “When Ford Thought Making a Nuclear-Powered Car Was a Good Idea.”
WheelsJoint.com, 19 Apr. 2020, www.wheelsjoint.com/when-ford-thought-making-anuclear-powered-car-was-a-good-idea/.
“CDC Radiation Emergencies.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 4 Apr. 2018,
www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/emergencies/isotopes/uranium.htm.
Papiewski, John. “The Differences Between Nuclear Power & Fossil Fuel-Burning Power
Plants.” Sciencing, 2 Mar. 2019, sciencing.com/differences-between-nuclear-power-fossilfuelburning-power-plants-21387.html.
Brinson, Linda C. “How Much Air Pollution Comes from Cars?” HowStuffWorks,
HowStuffWorks, 29 Aug. 2012, auto.howstuffworks.com/air-pollution-from-cars.htm.