Physics in the Desert: The Batteries of Heisenberg's Caravan

Breaking Bad is an American TV series released in 2008 and completed in 2013, produced by Vince Gilligan and distributed for AMC. The show describes the rise to power of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher, in the world of crime in order to financially support his family and pay for his medical expenses. Struck by a serious illness, Walter, along with an ex-student, decides that the only way to finance the exorbitant therapeutic costs is to embrace the life of a drug lord.

Jessie Pinckman (left) and Walter White (right) in their secret lab.

In one of the episodes, the two colleagues venture into the desert to start another "working day" but Jessie leaves the caravan keys inserted in the compartment. As a result, the caravan's batteries are discharged and the two see themselves stuck in the middle of the scorching New Mexico desert. In order to survive, Walter finds a solution and manages to recharge his batteries using his knowledge of Chemistry. Heisenberg creates rudimentary galvanic cells!

The two friends try to recharge the batteries of the mini-van thanks to the use of galvanic cells.

Let's analyze how Walter manages to restart the vehicle with only coins, bolts and rudimentary chemical solutions!

A galvanic cell is made of two containers separated by a semi-permeable membrane. In a container Walter places old copper coins into a solution of copper sulphate; in the other container, the chemist puts zinc bolts in a zinc sulphate solution. Then connect the two boxes with wires and connect them, at the same time, to the batteries of the caravan.

Zinc, in fact, tends to oxidize and release electrons directed towards the copper, which instead tends to shrink producing positive ions. Therefore, a potential difference is created between the two boxes that allows the production of an electric current that recharges the batteries of the vehicle.


The galvanic cell allows the production of an electric current flowing from the anode (zinc) to the cathode (copper). Obviously, this process ends when the zinc is completely dissolved.

The two careless criminals succeed, after two days spent in the desert, to escape from a certain death. However, this will be the last of their problems: on their way they will come across numerous dangers that will endanger their friendship and, above all, their lives.

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