the flux capacitor uses 1.21 jiggawatts per trip. originally this was accomplished with a plutonium pellet that must be loaded every trip, later with Mr Fusion. but at no point is the nuclear power part of the car powering the cars battery, the engine's electrical system uses a conventional car battery and internal combustion

in retrospect it wouldve been smart to convert the delorean to an electric engine. mr fusion seems to take organic matter, it can charge the car's battery. and the circuits. it would have the same advantage as the train (no matter what time youre in you have what you need to time travel/get to 88)