Sounds like a case for the nuclear option. 
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Depends if you want to make the truck go faster or to make it disappear?
Social debate aside, having a containment system and core that could take the rough and tumble might just be a step too far with current tech. And no doubt it will be like a big big battery too heavy.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology or synthesised low carbon low cost fuels are also options in common with future everyday motor vehicles. The one caveate is diesel used in all non registered off road plant and equipment is exempt from fuel excise. Lower cost than domestic fuel.
Hence the direction of any move to an alternate fuel or battery power by the sector is a good indicator of how cost effective a particular solution might be?
The sector has been using electric traction in limited ways since at least the 1960s for large rear dump vehicles. For flexibility, convenience, endurance and low maintenance hydrogen fuel cell technology appears the most viable current technology for replacing the diesel electric power plants in electric haulage vehicles.
The same would scale to road use for heavy haulage and high use personal transport.
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Dyson is planning to build electric vehicles in Singapore.
Hopefully they donât suck.
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Or cost five times the price of similar products.
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Tesla is taking the obvious one.
OK. Itâs a Ute, which is the lighter end of that market, but itâs not the first electric vehicle in that segment.
mining giant BHP has beat Tesla to the punch, working with Adelaide-based outfit Voltra, to trial converted its Toyota Landcruiser utes in harsh underground conditions, at its its massive Olympic Dam copper mine in South Australia.
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Another article regarding electric vehicles in Australia.
Iâm kinda warming to the idea in a global kinda way!
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Something positive to report.
The underground environment and internal combustion engines combine to create a potentially fatal risk from exhaust fumes.
The short story is an alternative such as battery electric power substantially reduces or eliminates major risk, while removing a significant and expensive technical maintenance requirement for the equipment if upgraded or converted.
On a direct economic comparison these other factors may be the primary reason for a change if the trial is successful. The difference in fuel costs may be a very minor consideration.
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And now we have a proposal for battery powered planes.
You would have to hope the batteries do not go flat in mid-air.
Great Aussie intuition and initative. While the focus is on a better battery,
The team the article reports on are more accurately developing a better electric motor to replace the piston motor on an aircraft. An electric motor that is well cooled at altitude and retains high efficiency without added weight is just one of the requirements for a successful electric powered small aircraft.
There are some comments on prospective range. It might be wise to leave the maths of battery energy density and efficiency to others. The Australian, Gold Coast team will be reliant on others to provide the battery technology.
When the 85kWh Tesla battery weight falls from the current 540kg to around 54kg, the other half of the formula will be met if battery powered. A hydrogen fuel cell may be more likely to get there first?
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Old news. Electric aircraft are already in commercial production. Commercial operation is planned. Whatâs happened about the Rottnest service, I donât know.
In the short term, some form of hybrid will likely dominate the market.
Hydrogen could be used as jet fuel, but a fuel cell would add too much weight and complexity (bearing in mind that current fuel cell technologies still need batteries).
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The direct combustion options for using hydrogen as a fuel are not overlooked in the last suggested. It is also equally applicable to road transport, although not at the current cost of production of hydrogen. If hydrogen production from solar power became cheap enough over night would many applications skip fuel cells and go with simpler fuel conversions for existing vehicles, similar to LPG change over?
Or you could go electric today?
It is worth noting electric motor conversion kits for your car are available if anyone is keen enough.
https://www.evworks.com.au/drive-systems/motors/
For the most flexible fuel options:
Turbine technology is also very adaptable and can be adapted to a variety of fuels while achieving energy conversion efficiencies mush greater than a diesel or petrol (ICE) engine. Outside one early version of the Batmobile and a few motor show concepts modern gas turbines have not been scaled down to suit every day motoring. Although if you use an M1A1 Abrahams as an every day drive the multi fuel turbine might do the job? (1,120kW)
Of course money was no object when Lycoming - Honeywell developed the AGT1500 series turbine.
Hydrogen has been tried many times. Its chief shortcomings are bulk (for liquid hydrogen: about four times the volume for the same energy as traditional jet fuel) and energy conversion inefficiency (in producing the fuel). That accounts for the huge fuel tanks on this late-1950s attempt:
The best known automotive industry turbine development is probably Chrysler. It suffered from poor acceleration and poor fuel efficiency. The killer was pollution (oxides of nitrogen IIRC).
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Now electric car manufacturersâ want free registration for electric vehicles in Australia.
I wonder who they expect to build and maintain the roads, or perhaps they would be happy to contribute some of their profits?
Nothing like pushing your own vested interests.
Time for rego and insurance to be pay by the kilometre and quality of roadway used. Discounts for potholes?
Weâd save a fortune.
Yes it needs Active GPS tracking.
Doesnât every E-car owner insist on a fully connected vehicle.
The argument against any subsidy for E-vehicles presently is it favours only a small portion of motorists. The cost of the subsidy suggested would be greatest on those with older less fuel efficient cars.
E-vehiicles remain several times more expensive than the price range of affordable vehicles for most motorists.
That will probably change:
âThereâs not that many electric cars in Australia right now, probably a little over 10,000,â he said.
âBut all of the forecasts show those numbers growing very dramatically to the point where we have millions in about a decade.â
âAs production cost comes down and the prices become more affordable, weâre going to see a much larger intake and sale of EVs.â
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This is a bit weird. Both electric and alternative! 
Eco-friendly solar charging system charges a vehicleâs battery using solar panels on its roof or body, improving mileage and reducing CO2 emissions
http://www.newspressaustralia.com/public/ViewPressRelease.aspx?pr=69293&pr_ref=32534
Looks like itâs becoming a trend:
Over the next twelve months a team of young Australians will convert a Thai-made tuk tuk into a three-wheeled, sun-powered, long-range electric vehicle to promote sustainable transport and a low-carbon future.
A parliamentary research paper released by the NSW Govt. It covers most of the topics of discussion current concerning the future use of EVs in NSW. It is silent on consideration of the revenue impact on the Federal Govt from any loss of fuel excise income.
The report sets out to also compare fuel costs between different vehicles including EVs across a range of tariffs. The petrol pricing used is a little less than the current peak.
The need to recover road funding costs from EV owners is also topical, although the state vs federal interface may be holding progress on this back. It is another key decission to be made and could be addressed through much higher state registration fees for EVâs if the commonwealth does not provide a solution?
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GM to launch electric bicycles.
I am not sure whether the bottom image portrays the bike as being foldable or whether what it will look like after an accident.
500 kilometres is a good target range. Itâs realistic for Australian conditions and, if youâve driven that far, itâs probably about time for a rest break. Prices are coming down to something more realistic than Teslaâs too. Not that I wouldnât like a Tesla. 
