catalytic converters vs the environment

Posted by James Marriott on February 1, 2007 under Environment, Mother Earth | Be the First to Comment

By now the chances are that if you drive a car or a newish motorbike it is going to have a catalytic converter fitted to it. This is a device fitted to the exhaust that is designed to remove harmful emissions from the exhaust fumes and turn them into relatively harmless carbon dioxide.

I remember when this hit the news for the first time, everyone was cheering and happy and gushing at the thought of how much better our world is going to be. This truely was the turning point in our smog ridden lives.

I think the expression “blissful ignorance” sums this up quite nicely. Let me explain:

Lets start with a few simple questions; actually, the same question just asked several times….
Q1. What gas is the primary cause of the greenhouse effect?
A1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
Q2. Are we sure that it’s Carbon Dioxide (CO2)?
A2. Yes.
Q3. Positive?
A3. Yes, positive.
Q4. You’re quite sure?
A4. Yes, quite sure thank you.
Q5. Carbon Dioxide, C-O-2?
A5. Yes. Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
Q6. Definately CO2?
A6. Yes.

Mmmmmmmm. One last question: What gas does a catalytic converter convert ‘harmful’ emissions into?

Carbon Dioxide…..

For fucks sake people. Ok, Carbon Monoxide (CO) is bad and other fumes such as the oxides of Nitrogen, cause acid rain, smog and make people cough. Sorry, but compared to the problems caused by the greenhouse effect, so bloody what? Airlines and members of the royal family (amongst others) are being bitched at because they use nasty aeroplanes that chuck out CO2 but they’re more than happy to insist all cars are now fitted with CO2 producing catalytic converts. Can anyone else see the hypocrisy of this?

So rather than help / provide funding for water powered (hydrogen) cars (a technology so easy and ‘simple’ that you can buy toy cars powered by water) they spend and petition for catalytic converts? Wankers. If your car has one fitted, remove it. Now. For the sake of our planet.

Oh yes, another point for you to mull over – catalytic converters prevent engine manufactures from making engines as fuel efficient as they could be because the more fuel efficient an engine becomes, the more nasties it produces. Catalytic converters can only cope with so much and so manufacturers spend a great deal more time, effort and money keeping an engine as clean burning as possible. Remove the cat and things get so much easier.

If you suffer from Asthma then I do sympathise with you but the needs of the many far outway those of the few, or at least, they bloody well should.

Let’s put more effort into developing alternative fueled vehicles and stop poisoning our planet with carbon dioxide.