The newest advancement in
hydrogen fuel cells may actually be from
laundry detergent. Instead of the fuel being made up of
natural gas, the hydrogen atoms will be bonded to
borax, rendering the fuel non-
explosive (the main concern of most potential consumers). The hydrogen atoms are freed from the borax bonds by water. The only other chemical needed is
sodium, which will bond with the borax and the
oxygen, from the water, to form
sodium borate (NaBO2). That, and some left-over borax, would be the only
exhaust products. This process is currently(as of March 2002) under testing for a possible
Chrysler van.
Should testing go well, we may soon see fuel cells on the road, with no carbon monoxide or dioxide exaust to worry about.