Screaming Penguin - Source Does Matter

This is way darn cool, Chrysler has a new hydrogen fuel cell concept van, the Natrium. The vehicle is powered by a sodium borohydride (NaBH4) engine developed by a company called Millenium Cell. Sodium borohydride can be made from sodium boride, which is Borax! Really, this car runs on laundry detergent and produces no pollution. The engine works by extracting Hydrogen out of the NaBH4 and then the byproduct is water and a sodium boride residue which can be recycled and made BACK into sodium borohydride. That is impressive, that is efficient, that is progress!

Of course, the "concept" part means you cant buy one yet, but its a huge step in the right direction.

The traditional problem with Fuel Cell vehicles has been the fuel and not the engine (not the fuel cell) as is aptly pointed out in the linked PlanetArk article. Where to safely get Hydrogen for refueling? This new use of NaBH4 is a remarkable breakthrough. This enables fuel cell vehicles to have a safe fuel that enables a far greater range that previously achieved. Again, great stuff.

Honda has plans for a fuel cell vehicle also. In fact many manufacturers are researching and working on it, but note, especially not American ones, are even close to Honda (and for that matter Toyota who also sells electric and hybrid vehicles already.) Honda has undoubtedly made the most progress towards consumer fuel efficient vehicles, having already had electric and hybrid on the market since 1999. Honda has put forth the effort even when they arent making bank for it right now. Personally I hope this effort pays off BIG for Honda in the future because they deserve it for their leadership and the risk they have taken in this area.

Thanks again to /. for the lead on yet another story.

Also, sidenote, While doing a little research on this I found a really cool related site, the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Letter, check it out too.   PlanetArk: Chrysler Fuel Cell Van