Catalytic converters, fitted in series with the exhaust pipe of gasoline fueled vehicles, convert over 90 percent of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the engine into less harmful carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen and water vapour. Since catalytic converters were first fitted to cars in 1974, more than 12 billion tons of harmful exhaust gases have been prevented from entering the earth’s atmosphere. More than 96 percent of cars manufactured today are equipped with catalysts.

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