Catalytic converters are essential in controlling unwanted emissions from cars.
As of late, catalytic converters have been all over the news because thieves have been targeting them.
Many people also ask themselves if electric cars have catalytic converters.
Do they even need them?
Most importantly, what is a catalytic converter anyway?
What Is a Catalytic Converter?
Thieves often target catalytic converters because of the materials they contain.
Thieves seek out vehicles that have valuable, easy-to-remove catalytic converters.
Once they steal the cat, the thieves sell the expensive metals inside for a high price.
The catalytic converter itself is a relatively simple-looking machine.
It’s basically a metal box that forms a part of your car’s exhaust system.
The precious metals that are popular with thieves also help catalyze the harmful exhaust gases your vehicle produces.
The combustion emissions that the cat seeks to eliminate include nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons.
Three-Way Cats
Most catalytic converters nowadays are three-way cats.
These two gases on their own don’t pose any serious problems for the environment.
This step creates carbon dioxide, which is not a harmless emissionbut is better than carbon monoxide.
This is where electric cars come in.
Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?
Well, the answer is no.
Fully electric vehicles don’t have catalytic converters, and they don’t need them.
On the other hand, electrified vehicles like plug-in hybrids do have catalytic converters.
This is one of the big advantages of electric vehicles.
How clean an EV ends up being is also down to the power grid used to charge it.
Eliminating the fabrication of parts that aren’t required for EVs is another way in which EVs are clean.
This will decrease fuel economy and make your vehicle feel less powerful.
A telltale sign of a bad catalytic converter is also an awful exhaust smell coming from your vehicle.
Catalytic converters are required by law and are also a necessary component of emissions testing.
Having a functioning catalytic converter in your vehicle helps you do your part in keeping the environment relatively clean.
The proliferation of EVs we’ve seen in recent years doesn’t seem to have an end in sight.
Catalytic converters have been essential in keeping our environment relatively clean for many years.
But, now that electric vehicles are beginning to rule our roads, catalytic converters aren’t necessary.
