If fusion is perfected how could it power transportation? The reactor would generate heat, or perhaps light given the temperatures involved. We could use the energy to produce synthetic fuels. But if it's a carbon based synfuel where do we get the carbon? Extract it from the air? Probably not cost effective compared to getting it from fossil fuels or biomass.
If the vehicles were electric then they could charge directly from a fusion power plant that would likely be designed to generate electricity. So this whole push for electrification might be really useful in a decade or so. I know there's a lot of EV hate on this board, but keep in mind that unsubsidized cost is a reasonable approximation of the resources that go into a good or service. If a technology like solar panels gives a financial return on investment then is it really worse for the planet?
If fusion is perfected how could it power transportation? The reactor would generate heat, or perhaps light given the temperatures involved. We could use the energy to produce synthetic fuels. But if it's a carbon based synfuel where do we get the carbon? Extract it from the air? Probably not cost effective compared to getting it from fossil fuels or biomass.
If the vehicles were electric then they could charge directly from a fusion power plant that would likely be designed to generate electricity. So this whole push for electrification might be really useful in a decade or so. I know there's a lot of EV hate on this board, but keep in mind that unsubsidized cost is a reasonable approximation of the resources that go into a good or service. If a technology like solar panels gives a financial return on investment then is it really worse for the planet?