Three decades ago, a list of 7 factors to consider when choosing a post-EMP vehicle would have been disregarded, like an article discussing how to raise a hybrid of man and alien from Krypton.
“Irrelevant and impossible” would have been the response, but not anymore — unfortunately. With time, the possibility of an EMP happening has been mentioned repeatedly. The admission of NASA that earth will not recover from an EMP attack has only highlighted just how times have changed.
Now, we live with the knowledge that a single catastrophe could wipe out the centuries of civilization that we have gone through. With a single blast, modern society and all its ills are gone. No more ultra-fast trains, flying cars (soon a possibility), sophisticated smartphones, advanced healthcare, and whatever we think is sophisticated.
I’m sure Alex Haley would be proud of himself: he’d have brought us all to our roots. Nice work, Kinta Kunte!
Looking At 7 Factors to Consider When Choosing A Post-EMP Vehicle
With the sudden unavailability of high-end vehicles following an EMP, I’m sure selecting the appropriate car to navigate the ruins will be difficult, if not impossible. I mean, nearly everyone these days selects cars based on the sophistication they come with, so how do we cope when the focus is not on such things?
Having taken my time to make extensive research, I’ve saved you the headaches of surfing different sites to know what to consider when selecting the ideal post-EMP BOV. Below, we’ll look at seven things to look at before buying your BOV when civilization is ruined.
Here we go.
Diesel Usage
Depending on the severity of an EMP, fossil fuels could become non-existent. It could put an end to the extraction, processing, distribution & sales of every gas you know. In short, the amount of gas you can access then may become all you’ll have forever — or for years at least.
The life storage of a fuel is defined by its extent of refinement. The higher the processing, the shorter the storage life and vice versa — which is where diesel has an advantage over other fuels. The gas can be stored longer than others because it is typically less refined.
Also, biodiesel can be made from grown crops, so there may be an opportunity to make some. Throw in the fact that diesel motors are simpler to operate than gasoline motors, thanks to the absence of an ignition system and the fact that tractors run chiefly on diesel, and you will surely see reasons for diesel’s special consideration.
Fuel Capacity
The fuel capacity of a vehicle must be considered when making your selection. Think about it: there is the possibility that there will be very few fuel stations (if any) in the post-EMP world. So, you want a vehicle that will contain a large amount of diesel. This is essential.
As an alternative, you can make additional or oversized gas tanks for your vehicle to increase its range. Also, you can have a reservoir of fuels in gallons, but this may make mobility difficult.
Towing or Cargo Suitability
For most, their post-EMP bug-out vehicle will serve as their home too, and I think this includes you. And we know that by the time you’re done piling in your valuables, spouse, young kids, aging grandma & the happy canine, you’ll most likely be scouting for methods to increase the carrying capacity of your vehicle. With this in mind, a trailer hitch, cargo space, swing outs, roof rack & similar tools may be what you want.
Off-road Specifications
Specs that aid off-road navigation, such as a full-size spare, 4-wheel drive, all-terrain tires, significant ground clearance, trail or extraction gear, lockers, off-road lighting, winch & towing points, will be especially useful in a post-EMP world. This is because maintaining roads will hardly be possible then, and vehicles that run out of fuel or get damaged on the road will be there.
Look at it: a 4-wheel drive along with oversized tires makes sense when your street or highway is filled with snow.
Maintenance & Repair
This should be easily understood. You have to go for a vehicle you can maintain and repair with ease (even by yourself) in a post-EMP world. Remember that with the absence of computers, there’s only so much you can do yourself. A well-equipped toolkit and comprehensive repair manual would make excellent presences in your car.
Commonality of Parts
A costly customized vehicle may easily tickle your fancy online or in a showroom, but in a post-EMP world, it may be the worst vehicle to have. Don’t get me wrong: your customized vehicle can be equipped with rare features that will get you out of trouble one or two times. However, spare parts for such vehicles are rare (basically non-existent), and thus repairing yours may be difficult.
The advice here is to settle for a car with commonly found parts. Remember there’ll be limited access to resources in the world we are talking of. You shouldn’t put yourself in a tight situation. Also, it may make more sense to buy 2–3 common (thus less-costly) vehicles rather than a costly, high-class one.
Count of Microelectronics, Chips or Computers
Some of the most recent vehicles are equipped with over 100 processors running on little amounts of power. This is good news in today’s world, but not when an EMP strikes. While these processors control the vehicle much easier (as they manage every aspect), they are highly sensitive to EMP.
All chips, computers, or microelectronics in your vehicle will be destroyed in case of an EMP. You’ll therefore be having a car without fuel injection, engine, transmission, or drive system. How do you plan to cope with that? While some manufacturers already take certain precautions to safeguard these processors, the measures may not be effective if the EMP is strong.
Concluding The 7 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Post-EMP Vehicle
Buying the ideal BOV after an EMP catastrophe can be difficult for many. Thankfully, paying attention to the 7 factors to consider when choosing a post-EMP vehicle mentioned above will help you reach an easy, excellent decision. Other factors to look at is “covert VS overt” and the metal material of the vehicle. Let’s hear from you. Do you think we missed anything?