A pretty good rule of thumb is that if the US federal government says something is a threat – or rather, if they admit something is a threat – it is likely a much more dire situation than said government wants to concede.
That said, the federal government – multiple agencies including our military – have ceded that one major threat to life as we know it is an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP.)
Whether by intent (terrorism, nuclear detonation) or happenstance (EMP damage from something like a comet or meteorite,) an EMP event would alter our lives as we know it.
In such an event, one major challenge will be transportation. Most of our vehicles now are so reliant on electrical components and computers that if an EMP rendered them useless, they would be little more than hunks of plastic, metal and rubber.
To learn what to look for in a vehicle to ensure it is as EMP proof as possible, check out the next page.
Next Page »
Ken Ortega
Sooo. 3/4 dodge w 12v cummins, or a CUCV gm w a 6.2. Lol
Jon Cabrera
So what if you have a steel pole barn grounded to earth? Would that act as a faraday cage?
Eric Clutch Holt
12v baby!
12v has a fuel lift pump that needs power to operate. I’m not confident it is ideal to survive an EMP. I have two 12v’s with manual trannies They can’t be push started
Use to be that way. If need be, can be that way again. Whatever it takes.
Cindy Burnette Christian
Do your home work younger people.
Give been told that even these new cars, if the car is not “on” then it won’t be affected…or at least less so. Anyone else have anything to say about that? It’s a question not a statement.
Antonio Ramirez
Yeah you could pull the solenoid off but push starting one is very difficult and you will eventually break something trying to
Yeah, way too much compression, maybe. I’ve never had any luck even on good hills
Kyle Corrigan
It seems like we might need this sooner the later
Unless you’re already out in the middle of nowhere, I think a vehicle will be USELESS in SHTF. WORSE. Because you will depend on it.
Actually it would be fine as long as the battery is disconnected. You’re only half right.
As long as your battery is not connected, you car will be fine. Install a fool proof kill switch and activate it when you’re not driving.
Tom Wolfe
My WWII and 47 willys jeeps will be fine.
Push starting is intended for diesel fuel engines.
That may be true, my old diesel mercedes was easy to push start. My 12v cummins, nope.
My bug out
Jeff Comer
or you could just ignore such pointless nonsense
Rob Britt
Tin foil lots and lots of tin foil. Lol
I’m jealous!
An emp causes a surge in the electrical system so regardless if it’s on or off most if not all electronic components will be destroyed.
Thanks Nate!! Good read.
It’s called a bike.
My bug out rig
Jay, what’s your opinion
Really, an EMP. Highly unlikely.
Seth Morris
http://www.futurescience.com/emp/vehicles.html
That’s why mine wears a tinfoil hat.
Hard to do with modern vehicles
Matt Allbritton
That’s easy buy and old one
I think only a faraday cage would stop an EMP
My personal plan involves an older truck with a copper cage in the motor compartment and a few spare pieces in a caged box. As far as people saying a vehicle is inefficient they must not know how to get gas from a dead pump or how to mod for better mileage
Points and a carburetor
3rd gear.
Ah, 3rd. I’ll try that
Faraday cage
Nope I don’t think so
They are manual lift pumps for them. They are used in industrial settings.
Best bet is something like my 1962 fairlane. Literal basics, the entire wiring harness is about 12 wires. Points and condenser, carburated, and with a generator,” not an alternator” only thing that may need replaced is the very simple voltage regulator, but it will run with out it.
I’ve push started many of my 4WD’s, never had a problem in 3rd and it will not hurt anything.