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Chrysler Announces Hydrogen Fuel Cell Van

Posted by michael on from the clean-as-a-whistle dept.

Juanfe writes: "Chrysler group announced a concept vehicle called the Natrium, powered by a sodium borohydride (NaBH4) engine developed by Millenium Cell. NaBH4 can be made from sodium borate -- basic borax, used in laundry detergent. MilleniumCell is a US Company that, not surprisingly, has made strategic agreements with major borax purveyors in the US (which just happens to be thought of as the largest borax reserve in the world). Could this be the start of the end of big oil and the start of the start of big Borax?" superflippy points out that Chrysler's press release is related to the Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas (EVAA) Electric Transportation Industry Conference 2001.

2 of 324 comments (clear)

  1. An article from 4 years ago by Harumuka · · Score: 5, Informative

    There's an article from '97 describing Chrystler's idea for the hydrogen cell fuel car. Interesting to compare their predictions and the result four years later. Quite thought-provoking.

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  2. Safe? Nope by SpacePunk · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's a couple of links.

    http://espi-metals.com/msds's/sodiumborohydride. pd f

    http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/SO/sodium_borohydr id e.html

    Here's what the article says about Sodium Borohydride...

    "To solve those problems, Chrysler's system stores hydrogen in sodium borohydride powder, which is nonflammable and nontoxic"

    Here's what the data sheets say...

    "Stable, but reacts readily with water (reaction may be violent). Incompatible with water, oxidising agents, carbon dioxide, hydrogen halids, acids, palladium, ruthenium and other metal salts, glass. Flammable solid. Air-sensitive."

    "Toxic by ingestion. Risk of serious internal burns if ingested. Harmful if inhaled and in contact with skin. May cause burns or severe irritation in contact with skin or eyes.
    Toxicity data
    (The meaning of any abbreviations which appear in this section is given here.)
    ORL-RAT LD50 89 mg kg-1
    SKN-RBT LD50 4000 mg kg-1
    IPR-RAT LD50 18 mg kg-1

    Risk phrases
    (The meaning of any risk phrases which appear in this section is given here.)
    R15 R25 R34."

    Looks to me like big business is full of shit yet again.

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