Matthew,
I have no objection to facts, just people making claims without supporting evidence. The PSDS, Product Safety Data Sheet, from Energizer shows Cobalt in the batteries but oddly enough the hazards are rated as low, unlike the disengenous hand wringing about heavy metal hazards engaged in by C.R. Kreiger. This leads me to wonder why he doesn't seem so exercised about the known dangers of lead acid cells which already exist in the millions on the road, the aromatics in gasoline, the known carcinogens in Diesel, or any number of other issues surrounding the use of fossil fuels. Cobalt gets a casual mention as a possible carcinogen in the PSDS, but the hazards are easily containable as long as people are not idiotic in handling NiMH batteries, which are sealed. Toyota, as I pointed out in the original reason for all this handwaving by C.R. Kreiger, has not had a single failure and anticipates no large environmental problems, unlike the burning of fossil fuels which all responsible climate researchers agree is causing large changes in the planetary ecosystem (see why this battery technology is not viewed with concern by hazardous materials professionals. So the original proposition that millions of these batteries would be a disaster are not born out by the facts on the ground. For those interested in the relatively benign nature of NiMH batteries please link to this more specific information:
Then when you are done pondering this information go look up the MSDS on lead acid batteries and other everyday materials used in your automobile. Compare them to the above.
Finally for those interested in progress toward a yet more environmentally benign battery technology please see this link:
Now Matthew, can we move forward on technologies that this country will need or, like C.R. Kreiger, will we remain mired in the past, driving polluting autos that feed egos while harming the common environment we all depend on? Your choice.
