"Vaughn Simon" wrote in message
...

"Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote in message
. ..

Another potential disruptive technology converts simple radioactive decay
directly into electricity. These devices are generally considered as
safe as the smoke detectors you have at home. Add them to Dr. Yi's
nanowire lithiums and they will slowly charge themselves - for 20 years
or so. Just put your electric glider in its trailer and next weekend,
it's charged up ready to go.

Actually, electrical generators powered by radioactive decay have been
around for at least 50 years. That said, the chemical reaction you suggest
might represent an improvement on the concept. Of course, any chance the
common man ever had to possess and use radioactive materials to generate
power (slim to none at best) totally disappeared on 9/1/01, so this is
unlikely to ever be a deal changer.

Vaughn

I wasn't writing about a chemical reaction or a thermionic generator - try
betavoltaics. You already have this much radioactivity in your smoke
detectors. Actually, a terrorist could deliver more radioactivity by
throwing bananas at us.

Bill D