Catalytic Converters convert NOx (poison), CO (poison) and unburned
>hydrocarbons (poison) into water (harmless), N2 (harmless) and CO2 (mostly
>harmless). They basically clean up the combustion process. Whoever
>invented the gadget should get a Nobel Prize.
Catalytic converters are horrible inefficient devices which were successfully marketed to governments as "the right way to go" Other forms of emissions control i.e lean burn engines could have provided a much better solution IMHO. Unfortunately what's good for the big oil companies tends to influence governments more than what's good for the masses, so we have catalysts....
Just my 2p