An idea for vehicles

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Use an RTG to supply heat for the engine and slowly charge/maintain the battery. The radioisotope thermoelectric generator could use nonfissionable radioisotopes and still last for about thirty years, longer than cars normally do. Since a car battery is really only for starting a vehicle, perhaps a high farad capacitor and voltage regulation system could be used in its place and the 100 Watt RTG could be used for running the radio and lights while the engine is off. While cesium or strontium have high ionization potential, lead acid batteries are also dangerous so replacing a battery with an RTG and capacitor system probably wouldn't increase risks. If used in conjunction with a regular battery, a charging circuit would be needed.


I think I like the idea of not bothering with a lead acid battery better than using an RTG to maintain one, but just having a 1500 Watt heat source for winter would help even if disconnected from the battery. If a vehicle broke down in winter, the paasengers could use it to warm the passenger cabin while waiting for road assistance to arrive. As long as its shielded properly, radiation would not pose a risk. Not using super toxic elements, even if it broke open in an accident you would only need to not contact it. Cesium or strontium would react with water and oxidize with the water quickly, not something you'd want to be too close to - but how close does anyone want to be near to a flaming car with a leaking gas tank or whatnot anyway?

An RTG system using nonfissionable radioisotopes of low chemical toxicity could help cars be more reliable in winter. In a package containing a capacitor, it could replace a car's chemical battery entirely.

Cost?

supplying heat for the engine? i assume you just want to change the electrical circuit, in which case, there is still an internal combustion engine installed: that thing makes its own heat, and lots of it...

really, RTGs are complex, heavy and expensive, not worth putting in cars.
even though replacing lead batteries is a good idea, an RTG isn't a practical way to go...

Not to mention the potential for future cancers after each total wreck.

That said, I *like* the OP's way of searching out alternatives to the status quo. Sure, this one may or may not be practical enough but the next one might, or the one after that. Or, maybe the naysayers are wrong! How many light bulb designs did Edison go through before finding one that worked (tungsten or carbon thread in a vacuum, iir)?