Mazda cuts costs by cutting precious metals in converter
Coll3ctor
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Hans Greimel
Automotive News
January 9, 2009 - 11:00 am ET
TOKYO -- Mazda is cutting costs with a new catalytic converter that uses 70 percent less precious metal than previously needed to clean exhaust.
The technology will debut in the redesigned Mazda3 sedan, which reaches U.S. showrooms in the first quarter. Mazda Motor Corp. hopes to extend the converter to other models.
The trick is using nanotechnology to keep precious metals from clumping at high temperatures. Metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium promote chemical reactions that help purify tailpipe emissions. But the metal particles lose effectiveness when they fuse.
To prevent this, Mazda uses tiny metal particles less than 5 nanometers in diameter. A nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter. A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick, according to the National Nanotechnology Initiative, a program established to coordinate federal nanotechnology r&d.
Mazda declined to say how much money it expects to save with the technology.
Prices for platinum, palladium and rhodium have fallen from their historical highs of early 2008. But automakers are trying to reduce use as demand rises with the need for cleaner cars.
Retail prices of converters vary, but an aftermarket converter for a four-cylinder car costs about $200.
Automotive News
January 9, 2009 - 11:00 am ET
TOKYO -- Mazda is cutting costs with a new catalytic converter that uses 70 percent less precious metal than previously needed to clean exhaust.
The technology will debut in the redesigned Mazda3 sedan, which reaches U.S. showrooms in the first quarter. Mazda Motor Corp. hopes to extend the converter to other models.
The trick is using nanotechnology to keep precious metals from clumping at high temperatures. Metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium promote chemical reactions that help purify tailpipe emissions. But the metal particles lose effectiveness when they fuse.
To prevent this, Mazda uses tiny metal particles less than 5 nanometers in diameter. A nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter. A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick, according to the National Nanotechnology Initiative, a program established to coordinate federal nanotechnology r&d.
Mazda declined to say how much money it expects to save with the technology.
Prices for platinum, palladium and rhodium have fallen from their historical highs of early 2008. But automakers are trying to reduce use as demand rises with the need for cleaner cars.
Retail prices of converters vary, but an aftermarket converter for a four-cylinder car costs about $200.
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Comments
<< <i>Bet they smell like the Fords. >>
Fords stink whether they have a converter or not!
for a spike this year due to the auto bailouts.....
It would really suck having 2200.00 platinum laying around...
<< <i>This should help the platinum, palladium and rhodium investors who were looking
for a spike this year due to the auto bailouts.....
It would really suck having 2200.00 platinum laying around...
Rhodium...who the hell has any Rhodium bullion or coins? It looks like Platinum has rallied back to almost $1,000 which is a little more than I payed for my meager 4 1/2 ounces. It seems like you derive great pleasure in other people loosing money, I feel sorry for you.
<< <i>This should help the platinum, palladium and rhodium investors who were looking
for a spike this year due to the auto bailouts.....
It would really suck having 2200.00 platinum laying around...
Um.......if the news says that they can CUT usage of precious metals by 70%, how exactly does that help the prices of platinum and palladium???
TD
<< <i>
<< <i>This should help the platinum, palladium and rhodium investors who were looking
for a spike this year due to the auto bailouts.....
It would really suck having 2200.00 platinum laying around...
Um.......if the news says that they can CUT usage of precious metals by 70%, how exactly does that help the prices of platinum and palladium???
TD >>
It was a joke.....