Project Vision: To deploy a decentralized network of 2,000 buried microreactors at US Interstate rest stops to provide high-capacity EV charging, grid stability, and state revenue.
The primary power unit for this project is the Westinghouse eVinci, a "nuclear battery" designed for transportability and autonomous operation.
- Dimensions: Roughly 40’ x 14’ x 14’ (Standard Rail Car / Shipping Container size).
- Power Output: 5 MWe (Electric) / 13 MWth (Thermal).
- Fuel Type: TRISO fuel (Poppy-seed sized kernels encapsulated in ceramic layers). Inherently "meltdown-proof" up to 1,600°C.
- Cooling System: Passive Sodium Heat Pipes. No pumps, no high-pressure water, and zero water consumption.
- Operational Life: 8–12 years of 100% power without refueling.
To address safety and public perception, the reactor and its primary conversion equipment are installed sub-grade.
- Placement: 15–20 feet underground in a concrete-lined trench.
- Shielding: Uses natural earth and soil as the primary biological shield, reducing the need for heavy lead/steel transport.
- Physical Security: The burial depth acts as a primary defense; access requires heavy machinery and significant time. Remote monitoring detects unauthorized machinery use, allowing for rapid response by authorities.
- Containment & Thermal Management:
- The reactor is sealed in a stainless-steel canister.
- Active Working Fluid Loop: The outer layer of the container features a fluid loop to absorb and transfer heat efficiently to surface systems, preventing soil "baking."
- Pressure Monitoring: The canister is maintained with an inert gas blanket. Sensors detect pressure deviations (<1%) to trigger an automatic safe shutdown.
- BESS (Battery Energy Storage System): A containerized battery bank to buffer peak charging loads from RVs and heavy trucks.
- Power Conversion: An Open-Air Brayton Cycle turbine that converts reactor heat to electricity using ambient air. Strategic Supply Note (2026): Sweden's newly cataloged rare earth deposits provide a secure supply chain for the high-performance permanent magnets required in these turbine generators, mitigating risks from Chinese export restrictions.
- Charging Stalls: Pull-through lanes designed for trailers, RVs, and 18-wheelers.
The system operates as a Grid-Tied Microgrid, ensuring 100% utilization of the reactor's constant output.
- Pure-Electric Heavy Transport: Direct delivery to high-speed stalls (up to 350 kW+ per port). Focus is exclusively on electricity to avoid conversion losses associated with hydrogen.
- BESS Charging: Excess power is stored on-site to handle "surges" during holiday travel.
- Grid Injection & Resilience: Surplus energy is sold back to the local utility.
- Civil Defense: The network serves as backup power during emergencies and provides "Black Start" capabilities to jumpstart the national grid after a collapse.
- Remote Monitoring: No on-site operators. Data is funneled to a centralized Nuclear Operations Center (NOC).
- Regulatory Compliance: Leverages the 2026 NRC Part 53 Framework.
A 2,000-unit rollout represents a transformative investment in US energy sovereignty.
| Category |
Value (Estimated) |
| Capital Cost (CAPEX) |
~$80 Million (Mass-produced) |
| Annual Revenue |
~$10.2 Million (Charging + Grid sales) |
| O&M Costs |
~$1.8 Million |
| Net Annual Income |
~$8.4 Million |
| Payback Period |
~9.5 Years |
- Desalination: In arid or coastal regions, waste heat is used to desalinate trucked-in salt water. Produced salts are sold as industrial commodities.
- Modular Carbon Capture: Direct-Air Capture (DAC) units can be installed as a Phase 2 upgrade after the core infrastructure is stabilized.
- Staggered Logistics: Deployment and replacement are on a staggered schedule, creating a continuous, manageable maintenance cycle.
- Batch Template Licensing: The first batch of reactors serves as a template. Once bugs are fixed and the process is refined, subsequent units will follow a streamlined, "fast-tracked" path.
- Licensing: Supported by the ADVANCE Act and Executive Order 14300.
- Pilot Sites: Idaho National Laboratory (DOME facility) began testing eVinci prototypes in early 2026.
- State Incentives: Wyoming and Tennessee have established "Nuclear Hub" zones.