Mazda confirmed yesterday (12th January) that it is set to offer its new single nano technology catalytic converter to German consumers in the coming 12 months.

The Japanese automaker announced that the technology - which can offer 75 per cent lower emissions than specified in EU law - will be incorporated into its new two-litre Mazda 3 model.

According to company officials, the new development is capable of reducing the use of precious metals such as palladium and platinum in catalytic converters by as much as 70 per cent.

However, the technology is only being used on the underfloor catalysts of the vehicles - as opposed to the complete after-treatment system - so the savings on PGM costs may not be as significant as the announcement would appear to suggest.

Indeed, the Mazda system uses PGMs as its active component and the constant tightening of emissions regulations indicate that the consumption of the metals will continue to increase.

The Mazda technology is the latest example of car manufacturers attempting to cut costs on precious metals in autocatalysts, something catalyst producers, including Johnson Matthey, is working on with them.

Johnson Matthey regards this as a natural process which has been occurring since the 1970s and believes the Japanese firm's announcement is a sign of the progress being made.

In the short to medium term, thrifting will continue, but Johnson Matthey has reasserted its belief that it will not affect the expected increase in demand for PGMs in years to come.

Source:

Mazda takes catalytic converter technology to Germany (12/01/09)
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/250073,mazda-takes-catalytic-converter-technology-to-germany.html

Mazda Cuts Precious Metal Usage 70 Percent in New Single-nanocatalyst (08/01/09)http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2009/200901/090108a.html  

Thrifting of precious metals in autocatalysts (13/01/09)
http://www.platinum.matthey.com/media_room/11858024399050.html