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Would EMP From a Nuke Stall a car?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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In my story a man who works in Military Intel gets early warning that a nuclear attack on his base is inbound. He abandons his post, grabs his wife and kid from on base housing, and books it out of there at 90 miles per hour with 20 minutes to spare. He is 30 miles away from ground zero when the strike happens. This is far enough away that he and his family are 10 miles outside of the air blast radius. The idea is that they continue driving as far as they can before running into clogged roads or running out of gas.
My question is, does the EMP stall their car? Does EMP effect cars? I know that EMP is not the magic anti-technology ray that Hollywood makes it out to be, but I don't know what the actual real world effects on a vehicle would be.
reality-check hard-science
asked 1 hour ago
TCAT117
15.7k24972
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up vote
4
down vote
favorite
In my story a man who works in Military Intel gets early warning that a nuclear attack on his base is inbound. He abandons his post, grabs his wife and kid from on base housing, and books it out of there at 90 miles per hour with 20 minutes to spare. He is 30 miles away from ground zero when the strike happens. This is far enough away that he and his family are 10 miles outside of the air blast radius. The idea is that they continue driving as far as they can before running into clogged roads or running out of gas.
My question is, does the EMP stall their car? Does EMP effect cars? I know that EMP is not the magic anti-technology ray that Hollywood makes it out to be, but I don't know what the actual real world effects on a vehicle would be.
reality-check hard-science
asked 1 hour ago
TCAT117
15.7k24972
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
In my story a man who works in Military Intel gets early warning that a nuclear attack on his base is inbound. He abandons his post, grabs his wife and kid from on base housing, and books it out of there at 90 miles per hour with 20 minutes to spare. He is 30 miles away from ground zero when the strike happens. This is far enough away that he and his family are 10 miles outside of the air blast radius. The idea is that they continue driving as far as they can before running into clogged roads or running out of gas.
My question is, does the EMP stall their car? Does EMP effect cars? I know that EMP is not the magic anti-technology ray that Hollywood makes it out to be, but I don't know what the actual real world effects on a vehicle would be.
reality-check hard-science
asked 1 hour ago
TCAT117
15.7k24972
In my story a man who works in Military Intel gets early warning that a nuclear attack on his base is inbound. He abandons his post, grabs his wife and kid from on base housing, and books it out of there at 90 miles per hour with 20 minutes to spare. He is 30 miles away from ground zero when the strike happens. This is far enough away that he and his family are 10 miles outside of the air blast radius. The idea is that they continue driving as far as they can before running into clogged roads or running out of gas.
My question is, does the EMP stall their car? Does EMP effect cars? I know that EMP is not the magic anti-technology ray that Hollywood makes it out to be, but I don't know what the actual real world effects on a vehicle would be.
reality-check hard-science
reality-check hard-science
asked 1 hour ago
TCAT117
15.7k24972
asked 1 hour ago
TCAT117
15.7k24972
asked 1 hour ago
TCAT117
15.7k24972
asked 1 hour ago
TCAT117
15.7k24972
asked 1 hour ago
TCAT117
15.7k24972
15.7k24972
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
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oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
Depends on the car
It also depends on luck, sometimes an EMP will do permanent damage, sometimes it won't. The chances are you'll blow a bunch of fuses at the very least.
If you're running a diesel then it'll probably keep going. Not because the electronics are any more robust but because diesel doesn't actually need the glow plugs, it'll run on compression ignition. Depending on which fuses you blow, it may not start again if you stop the engine. If you fry the engine management system it'll run less efficiently, but it'll keep going. I once had a modern diesel running without fuel pumps, without glow plugs, without engine management, and only 3/4 cylinders, diesels keep going.
For petrol cars, the more modern and high spec the car, the more damage it's at risk of taking. If you're talking about a new BMW or Mercedes there's a reasonable chance it'll be completely knocked out from permanent damage to delicate electronics and drive by wire systems. Almost nothing you're holding is directly connected to the vehicle control it represents, it all goes through the computer first, even the steering.
If you're talking something from the 1970s with minimal electronics and all the refinement of a cart, it may even keep going with a brief cough as it cuts out during the pulse and then bump starts itself from the momentum.
Of course you're not the first to consider this issue.
The EMP Commission (appears legitimate) have written a report that includes considering the damage to vehicles from EMP which implies that there's no real issues.
However it should be noted that this report only covers vehicles up to 2002, current high spec vehicles have a far higher level of "drive by wire" computer control.
From page number 115 (pdf page 131)
We tested a sample of 37 cars in an EMP simulation laboratory, with automobile vintages ranging from 1986 through 2002. Automobiles of these vintages include extensive electronics and represent a significant fraction of automobiles on the road today. The testing was conducted by exposing running and nonrunning automobiles to sequentially increasing EMP field intensities. If anomalous response (either temporary or permanent) was observed, the testing of that particular automobile was stopped. If no anomalous response was observed, the testing was continued up to the field intensity limits of the simulation capability (approximately 50 kV/m).
Automobiles were subjected to EMP environments under both engine turned off and engine turned on conditions. No effects were subsequently observed in those automobiles that were not turned on during EMP exposure. The most serious effect observed on running automobiles was that the motors in three cars stopped at field strengths of approximately 30 kV/m or above. In an actual EMP exposure, these vehicles would glide to a stop and require the driver to restart them. Electronics in the dashboard of one automobile were damaged and required repair. Other effects were relatively . Twenty-five automobiles exhibited malfunctions that could be considered only a nuisance (e.g., blinking dashboard lights) and did not require driver intervention to correct. Eight of the 37 cars tested did not exhibit any anomalous response.
Based on these test results, we expect few automobile effects at EMP field levels below 25 kV/m. Approximately 10 percent or more of the automobiles exposed to higher field levels may experience serious EMP effects, including engine stall, that require driver intervention to correct. We further expect that at least two out of three automobiles on the road will manifest some nuisance response at these higher field levels. The serious malfunctions could trigger car crashes on U.S. highways; the nuisance malfunctions could exacerbate this condition. The ultimate result of automobile EMP exposure could be triggered crashes that damage many more vehicles than are damaged by the EMP, the consequent loss of life, and multiple injuries.
answered 1 hour ago
Separatrix
67.9k30159266
The spark plugs will fire regardless, so whlie this may not halt the car, when fired at the improper moment, it may stall the car significantly. If the car recovers from the stall, it would run until the car is turned off. At that point, it may or may not be able to start again, even if the car was made during the 1970s.
– Neil
49 mins ago
@Neil, diesel engines do not have spark plugs. And after a nuke particulate pollution is not a major concern.
– L.Dutch♦
5 mins ago
@L.Dutch True, but OP was clearly asking about cars in general, not specifically diesel cars.
– Neil
4 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
Depends on the car
It also depends on luck, sometimes an EMP will do permanent damage, sometimes it won't. The chances are you'll blow a bunch of fuses at the very least.
If you're running a diesel then it'll probably keep going. Not because the electronics are any more robust but because diesel doesn't actually need the glow plugs, it'll run on compression ignition. Depending on which fuses you blow, it may not start again if you stop the engine. If you fry the engine management system it'll run less efficiently, but it'll keep going. I once had a modern diesel running without fuel pumps, without glow plugs, without engine management, and only 3/4 cylinders, diesels keep going.
For petrol cars, the more modern and high spec the car, the more damage it's at risk of taking. If you're talking about a new BMW or Mercedes there's a reasonable chance it'll be completely knocked out from permanent damage to delicate electronics and drive by wire systems. Almost nothing you're holding is directly connected to the vehicle control it represents, it all goes through the computer first, even the steering.
If you're talking something from the 1970s with minimal electronics and all the refinement of a cart, it may even keep going with a brief cough as it cuts out during the pulse and then bump starts itself from the momentum.
Of course you're not the first to consider this issue.
The EMP Commission (appears legitimate) have written a report that includes considering the damage to vehicles from EMP which implies that there's no real issues.
However it should be noted that this report only covers vehicles up to 2002, current high spec vehicles have a far higher level of "drive by wire" computer control.
From page number 115 (pdf page 131)
We tested a sample of 37 cars in an EMP simulation laboratory, with automobile vintages ranging from 1986 through 2002. Automobiles of these vintages include extensive electronics and represent a significant fraction of automobiles on the road today. The testing was conducted by exposing running and nonrunning automobiles to sequentially increasing EMP field intensities. If anomalous response (either temporary or permanent) was observed, the testing of that particular automobile was stopped. If no anomalous response was observed, the testing was continued up to the field intensity limits of the simulation capability (approximately 50 kV/m).
Automobiles were subjected to EMP environments under both engine turned off and engine turned on conditions. No effects were subsequently observed in those automobiles that were not turned on during EMP exposure. The most serious effect observed on running automobiles was that the motors in three cars stopped at field strengths of approximately 30 kV/m or above. In an actual EMP exposure, these vehicles would glide to a stop and require the driver to restart them. Electronics in the dashboard of one automobile were damaged and required repair. Other effects were relatively . Twenty-five automobiles exhibited malfunctions that could be considered only a nuisance (e.g., blinking dashboard lights) and did not require driver intervention to correct. Eight of the 37 cars tested did not exhibit any anomalous response.
Based on these test results, we expect few automobile effects at EMP field levels below 25 kV/m. Approximately 10 percent or more of the automobiles exposed to higher field levels may experience serious EMP effects, including engine stall, that require driver intervention to correct. We further expect that at least two out of three automobiles on the road will manifest some nuisance response at these higher field levels. The serious malfunctions could trigger car crashes on U.S. highways; the nuisance malfunctions could exacerbate this condition. The ultimate result of automobile EMP exposure could be triggered crashes that damage many more vehicles than are damaged by the EMP, the consequent loss of life, and multiple injuries.
answered 1 hour ago
Separatrix
67.9k30159266
The spark plugs will fire regardless, so whlie this may not halt the car, when fired at the improper moment, it may stall the car significantly. If the car recovers from the stall, it would run until the car is turned off. At that point, it may or may not be able to start again, even if the car was made during the 1970s.
– Neil
49 mins ago
@Neil, diesel engines do not have spark plugs. And after a nuke particulate pollution is not a major concern.
– L.Dutch♦
5 mins ago
@L.Dutch True, but OP was clearly asking about cars in general, not specifically diesel cars.
– Neil
4 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Depends on the car
It also depends on luck, sometimes an EMP will do permanent damage, sometimes it won't. The chances are you'll blow a bunch of fuses at the very least.
If you're running a diesel then it'll probably keep going. Not because the electronics are any more robust but because diesel doesn't actually need the glow plugs, it'll run on compression ignition. Depending on which fuses you blow, it may not start again if you stop the engine. If you fry the engine management system it'll run less efficiently, but it'll keep going. I once had a modern diesel running without fuel pumps, without glow plugs, without engine management, and only 3/4 cylinders, diesels keep going.
For petrol cars, the more modern and high spec the car, the more damage it's at risk of taking. If you're talking about a new BMW or Mercedes there's a reasonable chance it'll be completely knocked out from permanent damage to delicate electronics and drive by wire systems. Almost nothing you're holding is directly connected to the vehicle control it represents, it all goes through the computer first, even the steering.
If you're talking something from the 1970s with minimal electronics and all the refinement of a cart, it may even keep going with a brief cough as it cuts out during the pulse and then bump starts itself from the momentum.
Of course you're not the first to consider this issue.
The EMP Commission (appears legitimate) have written a report that includes considering the damage to vehicles from EMP which implies that there's no real issues.
However it should be noted that this report only covers vehicles up to 2002, current high spec vehicles have a far higher level of "drive by wire" computer control.
From page number 115 (pdf page 131)
We tested a sample of 37 cars in an EMP simulation laboratory, with automobile vintages ranging from 1986 through 2002. Automobiles of these vintages include extensive electronics and represent a significant fraction of automobiles on the road today. The testing was conducted by exposing running and nonrunning automobiles to sequentially increasing EMP field intensities. If anomalous response (either temporary or permanent) was observed, the testing of that particular automobile was stopped. If no anomalous response was observed, the testing was continued up to the field intensity limits of the simulation capability (approximately 50 kV/m).
Automobiles were subjected to EMP environments under both engine turned off and engine turned on conditions. No effects were subsequently observed in those automobiles that were not turned on during EMP exposure. The most serious effect observed on running automobiles was that the motors in three cars stopped at field strengths of approximately 30 kV/m or above. In an actual EMP exposure, these vehicles would glide to a stop and require the driver to restart them. Electronics in the dashboard of one automobile were damaged and required repair. Other effects were relatively . Twenty-five automobiles exhibited malfunctions that could be considered only a nuisance (e.g., blinking dashboard lights) and did not require driver intervention to correct. Eight of the 37 cars tested did not exhibit any anomalous response.
Based on these test results, we expect few automobile effects at EMP field levels below 25 kV/m. Approximately 10 percent or more of the automobiles exposed to higher field levels may experience serious EMP effects, including engine stall, that require driver intervention to correct. We further expect that at least two out of three automobiles on the road will manifest some nuisance response at these higher field levels. The serious malfunctions could trigger car crashes on U.S. highways; the nuisance malfunctions could exacerbate this condition. The ultimate result of automobile EMP exposure could be triggered crashes that damage many more vehicles than are damaged by the EMP, the consequent loss of life, and multiple injuries.
answered 1 hour ago
Separatrix
67.9k30159266
The spark plugs will fire regardless, so whlie this may not halt the car, when fired at the improper moment, it may stall the car significantly. If the car recovers from the stall, it would run until the car is turned off. At that point, it may or may not be able to start again, even if the car was made during the 1970s.
– Neil
49 mins ago
@Neil, diesel engines do not have spark plugs. And after a nuke particulate pollution is not a major concern.
– L.Dutch♦
5 mins ago
@L.Dutch True, but OP was clearly asking about cars in general, not specifically diesel cars.
– Neil
4 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
Depends on the car
It also depends on luck, sometimes an EMP will do permanent damage, sometimes it won't. The chances are you'll blow a bunch of fuses at the very least.
If you're running a diesel then it'll probably keep going. Not because the electronics are any more robust but because diesel doesn't actually need the glow plugs, it'll run on compression ignition. Depending on which fuses you blow, it may not start again if you stop the engine. If you fry the engine management system it'll run less efficiently, but it'll keep going. I once had a modern diesel running without fuel pumps, without glow plugs, without engine management, and only 3/4 cylinders, diesels keep going.
For petrol cars, the more modern and high spec the car, the more damage it's at risk of taking. If you're talking about a new BMW or Mercedes there's a reasonable chance it'll be completely knocked out from permanent damage to delicate electronics and drive by wire systems. Almost nothing you're holding is directly connected to the vehicle control it represents, it all goes through the computer first, even the steering.
If you're talking something from the 1970s with minimal electronics and all the refinement of a cart, it may even keep going with a brief cough as it cuts out during the pulse and then bump starts itself from the momentum.
Of course you're not the first to consider this issue.
The EMP Commission (appears legitimate) have written a report that includes considering the damage to vehicles from EMP which implies that there's no real issues.
However it should be noted that this report only covers vehicles up to 2002, current high spec vehicles have a far higher level of "drive by wire" computer control.
From page number 115 (pdf page 131)
We tested a sample of 37 cars in an EMP simulation laboratory, with automobile vintages ranging from 1986 through 2002. Automobiles of these vintages include extensive electronics and represent a significant fraction of automobiles on the road today. The testing was conducted by exposing running and nonrunning automobiles to sequentially increasing EMP field intensities. If anomalous response (either temporary or permanent) was observed, the testing of that particular automobile was stopped. If no anomalous response was observed, the testing was continued up to the field intensity limits of the simulation capability (approximately 50 kV/m).
Automobiles were subjected to EMP environments under both engine turned off and engine turned on conditions. No effects were subsequently observed in those automobiles that were not turned on during EMP exposure. The most serious effect observed on running automobiles was that the motors in three cars stopped at field strengths of approximately 30 kV/m or above. In an actual EMP exposure, these vehicles would glide to a stop and require the driver to restart them. Electronics in the dashboard of one automobile were damaged and required repair. Other effects were relatively . Twenty-five automobiles exhibited malfunctions that could be considered only a nuisance (e.g., blinking dashboard lights) and did not require driver intervention to correct. Eight of the 37 cars tested did not exhibit any anomalous response.
Based on these test results, we expect few automobile effects at EMP field levels below 25 kV/m. Approximately 10 percent or more of the automobiles exposed to higher field levels may experience serious EMP effects, including engine stall, that require driver intervention to correct. We further expect that at least two out of three automobiles on the road will manifest some nuisance response at these higher field levels. The serious malfunctions could trigger car crashes on U.S. highways; the nuisance malfunctions could exacerbate this condition. The ultimate result of automobile EMP exposure could be triggered crashes that damage many more vehicles than are damaged by the EMP, the consequent loss of life, and multiple injuries.
answered 1 hour ago
Separatrix
67.9k30159266
Depends on the car
It also depends on luck, sometimes an EMP will do permanent damage, sometimes it won't. The chances are you'll blow a bunch of fuses at the very least.
If you're running a diesel then it'll probably keep going. Not because the electronics are any more robust but because diesel doesn't actually need the glow plugs, it'll run on compression ignition. Depending on which fuses you blow, it may not start again if you stop the engine. If you fry the engine management system it'll run less efficiently, but it'll keep going. I once had a modern diesel running without fuel pumps, without glow plugs, without engine management, and only 3/4 cylinders, diesels keep going.
For petrol cars, the more modern and high spec the car, the more damage it's at risk of taking. If you're talking about a new BMW or Mercedes there's a reasonable chance it'll be completely knocked out from permanent damage to delicate electronics and drive by wire systems. Almost nothing you're holding is directly connected to the vehicle control it represents, it all goes through the computer first, even the steering.
If you're talking something from the 1970s with minimal electronics and all the refinement of a cart, it may even keep going with a brief cough as it cuts out during the pulse and then bump starts itself from the momentum.
Of course you're not the first to consider this issue.
The EMP Commission (appears legitimate) have written a report that includes considering the damage to vehicles from EMP which implies that there's no real issues.
However it should be noted that this report only covers vehicles up to 2002, current high spec vehicles have a far higher level of "drive by wire" computer control.
From page number 115 (pdf page 131)
We tested a sample of 37 cars in an EMP simulation laboratory, with automobile vintages ranging from 1986 through 2002. Automobiles of these vintages include extensive electronics and represent a significant fraction of automobiles on the road today. The testing was conducted by exposing running and nonrunning automobiles to sequentially increasing EMP field intensities. If anomalous response (either temporary or permanent) was observed, the testing of that particular automobile was stopped. If no anomalous response was observed, the testing was continued up to the field intensity limits of the simulation capability (approximately 50 kV/m).
Automobiles were subjected to EMP environments under both engine turned off and engine turned on conditions. No effects were subsequently observed in those automobiles that were not turned on during EMP exposure. The most serious effect observed on running automobiles was that the motors in three cars stopped at field strengths of approximately 30 kV/m or above. In an actual EMP exposure, these vehicles would glide to a stop and require the driver to restart them. Electronics in the dashboard of one automobile were damaged and required repair. Other effects were relatively . Twenty-five automobiles exhibited malfunctions that could be considered only a nuisance (e.g., blinking dashboard lights) and did not require driver intervention to correct. Eight of the 37 cars tested did not exhibit any anomalous response.
Based on these test results, we expect few automobile effects at EMP field levels below 25 kV/m. Approximately 10 percent or more of the automobiles exposed to higher field levels may experience serious EMP effects, including engine stall, that require driver intervention to correct. We further expect that at least two out of three automobiles on the road will manifest some nuisance response at these higher field levels. The serious malfunctions could trigger car crashes on U.S. highways; the nuisance malfunctions could exacerbate this condition. The ultimate result of automobile EMP exposure could be triggered crashes that damage many more vehicles than are damaged by the EMP, the consequent loss of life, and multiple injuries.
answered 1 hour ago
Separatrix
67.9k30159266
edited 17 mins ago
answered 1 hour ago
Separatrix
67.9k30159266
answered 1 hour ago
Separatrix
67.9k30159266
answered 1 hour ago
Separatrix
67.9k30159266
67.9k30159266
The spark plugs will fire regardless, so whlie this may not halt the car, when fired at the improper moment, it may stall the car significantly. If the car recovers from the stall, it would run until the car is turned off. At that point, it may or may not be able to start again, even if the car was made during the 1970s.
– Neil
49 mins ago
@Neil, diesel engines do not have spark plugs. And after a nuke particulate pollution is not a major concern.
– L.Dutch♦
5 mins ago
@L.Dutch True, but OP was clearly asking about cars in general, not specifically diesel cars.
– Neil
4 mins ago
add a comment |Â
The spark plugs will fire regardless, so whlie this may not halt the car, when fired at the improper moment, it may stall the car significantly. If the car recovers from the stall, it would run until the car is turned off. At that point, it may or may not be able to start again, even if the car was made during the 1970s.
– Neil
49 mins ago
@Neil, diesel engines do not have spark plugs. And after a nuke particulate pollution is not a major concern.
– L.Dutch♦
5 mins ago
@L.Dutch True, but OP was clearly asking about cars in general, not specifically diesel cars.
– Neil
4 mins ago
The spark plugs will fire regardless, so whlie this may not halt the car, when fired at the improper moment, it may stall the car significantly. If the car recovers from the stall, it would run until the car is turned off. At that point, it may or may not be able to start again, even if the car was made during the 1970s.
– Neil
49 mins ago
The spark plugs will fire regardless, so whlie this may not halt the car, when fired at the improper moment, it may stall the car significantly. If the car recovers from the stall, it would run until the car is turned off. At that point, it may or may not be able to start again, even if the car was made during the 1970s.
– Neil
49 mins ago
@Neil, diesel engines do not have spark plugs. And after a nuke particulate pollution is not a major concern.
– L.Dutch♦
5 mins ago
@Neil, diesel engines do not have spark plugs. And after a nuke particulate pollution is not a major concern.
– L.Dutch♦
5 mins ago
@L.Dutch True, but OP was clearly asking about cars in general, not specifically diesel cars.
– Neil
4 mins ago
@L.Dutch True, but OP was clearly asking about cars in general, not specifically diesel cars.
– Neil
4 mins ago
add a comment |Â
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