Our western neighbor continues to rely on nuclear power, with over 50 nuclear power plants connected to the grid. The fact that France believes in nuclear energy is demonstrated by the project of the "Institut de la Recherche des Propulsions Alternatives" (Institute for Research into Alternative Propulsion Systems). The private research and development facility in Grenoble has succeeded in miniaturizing the nuclear energy drive so that it weighs less than two kilos and can therefore be installed in a bicycle.
"The sales success of e-bikes and the associated transportation of hundreds of thousands of lithium-ion batteries to points of sale poses a considerable safety risk," according to a concept paper on the "VéloNucFuture" project. The danger posed by the mini-nuclear reactor is modest in comparison: "The radioactivity that could escape in the worst-case scenario is roughly equivalent to that of an X-ray machine at the moment of image acquisition," the same paper puts into perspective.

The USA and the Soviet Union have launched several nuclear-powered ships since the 1950s. In Russia, such floating nuclear reactors are still in use today as icebreakers. As in nuclear power plants, the heat released during nuclear fission is directed to a gas turbine in these ships. Instead of generating electricity, it directly drives the propellers in the ocean liners. The same thing happens in miniature in the VéloNucFuture.

100,000 kilometers with one charge of uranium

However, the engineers did not simply want to create a motorcycle with a nuclear drive, but a bike comparable to an e-bike. They therefore had to develop a control system that ensures that the rear axle is only powered when the rider exerts pressure on the pedals. A lot of energy is then available for this: "The power unit has a maximum output of 1000 watts. More would be possible with the same technical effort, but neither necessary nor sensible in view of its use as a bicycle drive," the concept states scientifically dry. The amount of energy provided by the mini fuel rod is enough to ride around 100,000 kilometers on a flat route. Recharging or changing the energy pack is therefore a rare event that can be safely left to the nuclear energy experts.

The fact that the research team also has mountain bike experience is demonstrated by the heat: "The reactor technology means that high temperatures are generated. Thanks to good heat dissipation, this could be limited to a temperature range similar to that of the brake discs on a mountain bike after a long descent."

As with nuclear-powered locomotives and aircraft, the biggest problem with the nuclear bike is the cost. The whole thing can also be read as an image campaign for nuclear power, which has been criticized: "The point of VéloNucFuture is to show that nuclear power is still a safe and clean method of generating energy that deserves a place in people's everyday lives. The high production costs alone still stand in the way of series production."