Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
Overview
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) are a component which provides constant energy without expending materials to do so. Batteries are required to store and use energy, electric motors are required to convert energy into power.
Free energy comes at the cost of a high weight, volume, and cost to build compared to other power plants. As such, its most useful for support craft in campaign that do not see combat, or as a baseline form of power in adventure mode.
Random Stats
Power Harvesting Since RTGs do not create power nor store energy on their own, they require batteries to be built on your craft for RTGs to be utilized. RTGs create 15 energy per second per cubic meter of RTG, while a battery with an electric motor can convert 90 energy per second to power per cubic meter of battery when the battery is fully charged. In order to efficiently convert RTG energy into power, a craft needs 1 cubic meter of battery for every 6 cubic meters of RTG in order to convert 100% of the RTG energy/sec into power. The battery must have an electric engine attached to convert energy to power.
Time to Break Even Since RTGs create energy without expending materials over time, they end up "saving" materials that would've otherwise been spent on fuel/steam. As such, they effectively pay themselves off over time presuming that your RTGs are not destroyed. The time required to be cost neutral is dependent on the power per material (ppm) of the engine you'd otherwise build. This is most effective for noncombat vehicles in the campaign, or as a baseline powerplant in adventure mode. Here are the times to break even for various engine efficiencies, ignoring the cost of the engine, which would reduce the time to break even:
| Engine Efficiency | Time to Break Even |
|---|---|
| 1000ppm | 3h 28m 20s |
| 700ppm | 2h 25m 50s |
| 400ppm | 1h 23m 20s |
However, since vehicles can be scrapped for 100% of their build cost, using RTGs to power a cargo vehicle and scrapping it at its destination effectively converts the cost of the cargo vehicle into additional cargo capacity. Thus, RTGs can be used much more freely on cargo vehicles and other vehicles you intend to scrap.