Natrium Fuel Cell Minivan

from a DC Press release:

"Chrysler Town & Country Natrium Fuel Cell Minivan Earns 'Best of What's New' Award from Popular Science Magazine"


Auburn Hills, Mich., Nov 8, 2002 - The Chrysler Town & Country Natrium, a fuel cell concept vehicle based on the popular minivan, has been recognized with a "2002 Best of What's New" Award from Popular Science magazine.

The Natrium, which made its first public test drives in the Spring of 2002, uses a unique fuel and fuel cell system to provide the hydrogen needed by the vehicle's fuel cells to produce electricity.

"Attempting to solve the eternal 'where do we get the hydrogen?' question," the magazine said in making the award, "Chrysler this year unveiled the most imaginative solution we've seen.

"Its Natrium minivan is powered by sodium borohydride — essentially, laundry detergent combined with hydrogen."

The hydrogen is extracted from the sodium borohydride fuel using patented "Hydrogen on Demand" technology from Millennium Cell Inc. in Eatontown, New Jersey.

"This award recognizes DaimlerChrysler innovation at its best," said Bernard I. Robertson, Senior Vice President, Engineering Technologies and Regulatory Affairs for DaimlerChrysler.

"The Natrium combines our industry-leading fuel cell vehicle development program and the creativity of our advanced technology group, while building on our heritage of close working relationships with key technology partners," Robertson said.

The unique fuel and fuel cell system give the Natrium a range of 300 miles, comparable to a gas-powered vehicle. In addition, the fuel is nonflammable and emits no smog-forming or greenhouse gases. Sodium borohydride is available in abundant supplies in the United States, and the fuel can be recycled.

"Each of the fuels being studied for fuel cell vehicles - including gasoline, methanol and compressed hydrogen - has significant drawbacks," noted Thomas Moore, Vice President and head of the Liberty research group. "We want to explore fully this approach to fuel cell vehicles, so that when the time comes to select the best fuels, we can make informed decisions."

Popular Science will publish its full list of "Best of What's New" winners in the December issue.