Formula 1 race-tested electronics power nuclear microreactors into fast-lane deployment

Antares is turning to Formula 1 technology for a key part of its nuclear microreactor system. The U.S. microreactor developer has partnered with UK-based Motion Applied to supply power electronics for its reactor power-conversion system. The technology comes from high-performance motorsport. That choice could help Antares avoid developing every component specifically for nuclear use. Motorsport meets nuclear engineering Power conversion sits between the reactor and the electrical grid. It must handle demanding electrical loads while maintaining efficiency, reliability and precise control. Motion Applied brings experience from motorsport, where power electronics face rapid load changes and intense operating conditions. Its technology has also reached production at volumes far beyond typical nuclear manufacturing. Antares sees that manufacturing scale as a major advantage. Automotive suppliers already build power electronics for millions of vehicles and test them against stringent reliability requirements. The company says its reactor’s electrical output falls within the range of a high-performance vehicle drivetrain. That creates an unusual opportunity to use technology developed for automotive applications. “Automotive has put decades and enormous capital into power electronics R&D, at a scale nuclear has never had the market to support,” said Dr. Rian Bahran, Antares’ chief nuclear officer. He said the partnership lets Antares apply proven technology without reproducing decades of development internally. Scale changes reactor economics Traditional nuclear projects often require highly specialized components designed around individual plants. Small reactors can operate within a different industrial ecosystem. Antares can source certain electrical systems from established supply chains because its reactor operates at a much smaller scale. That could reduce development costs and shorten the path toward manufacturing. Not every component can come from automotive suppliers. Nuclear-grade materials, specialized instrumentation, and certain heavy components still require purpose-built solutions. The distinction gives Antares a more selective approach to vertical integration. Engineers can develop critical reactor hardware internally while sourcing mature technologies elsewhere. Faster path to deployment Luiz Oliveira helped identify the opportunity after joining Antares. His background includes Formula 1 power units at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains and hybrid systems for high-performance vehicles. During his Antares interview, Oliveira proposed using motorsport-derived power electronics for the reactor system. The idea challenged the assumption that every major component needed an in-house nuclear design. “In racing you find out on Sunday whether your part works, in front of everyone and then you do it again the next week,” Oliveira said. That experience helped shape Antares’ thinking around reliability and manufacturing maturity. Motion Applied CEO Samir Maha said the company’s electronics target applications where efficiency and durability remain critical under demanding conditions. Antares plans to begin generating electricity in 2027, with reactor installations targeted for 2028. Its strategy puts manufacturing speed alongside reactor performance. The underlying bet is straightforward. A microreactor does not always need a nuclear-specific solution when an existing industrial technology can meet the requirement.That could give small nuclear systems access to decades of engineering investment from industries that manufacture at vastly greater scale.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.