Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

The short answer is no. 

Catalytic converters have been mandatory for all passenger vehicles sold in the US since the 1970s. Until recently, vehicles have had internal combustion engines, so it made sense for them to all have catalytic converters.

Electric vehicles (EVs) don’t have an internal combustion engine that creates exhaust gases, so they don’t need catalytic converters.

But how about hybrid vehicles? Do hybrid vehicles have catalytic converters? Hybrid vehicles are equipped with both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. You might be thinking that they don’t need a catalytic converter because they’re more efficient and create less emissions. However, this doesn’t exempt them from requiring a catalytic converter. All hybrid vehicles are still required to have catalytic converters.

What Are Catalytic Converters?

Catalytic converters are emissions control devices installed in vehicle exhaust systems. They transform harmful hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides into carbon dioxide and water. These devices have precious metals like platinum that help to transform toxic gases into less harmful compounds.

Why Hybrid Vehicles Still Need Catalytic Converters

A hybrid vehicle’s internal combustion engine still needs to have a catalytic converter because of several important reasons.

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To Reduce Emissions

A hybrid vehicle is around 40% more efficient than an ICE-equipped vehicle, but it can still burn a lot of fuel and release a lot of emissions throughout its lifespan. A single vehicle can emit several tons of greenhouse gases in a single year. Given that climate is a growing priority for governments, every hybrid vehicle is still required to reduce CO, HC, and NOx and reducing these three gasses has always been the job of the catalytic converter.

Note that the catalytic converter does nothing to reduce greenhouse gasses, which include water vapor and CO2.

For the Public’s Safety

As previously mentioned, the catalytic converter transforms toxic compounds like nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide into less harmful elements. Without a catalytic converter, hybrid vehicle emissions can be very harmful. Nitrogen dioxide is incredibly harmful to the human respiratory system. Carbon monoxide is known to reduce blood’s ability to carry oxygen. People exposed to carbon monoxide can experience headaches, fatigue, and dizziness because less oxygen reaches the brain.

To Reduce Noise

Catalytic converters make engines less noisy because their cone structure helps muffle the engine’s sound as exhaust gases exit the exhaust pipe.

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Pro Tip: This doesn’t mean a muffler isn’t needed because all internal combustion engine equipped cars are built with mufflers.

Hybrid Vehicle Catalytic Converter Theft

If you have a hybrid vehicle, you should remember that your vehicle’s catalytic converter is at risk of being stolen. This is because it has valuable metals like palladium, rhodium, and platinum. Wondering which cars are most likely to have their catalytic converters stolen?

It’s unclear which models are particularly susceptible, but hybrid vehicle catalytic converters are more valuable than their ICE counterparts because they have more valuable materials and are usually less corroded.

As electric and hybrid vehicles take the stage, catalytic converters are still quite important. Catalytic converters keep emissions low and people safe. Cars are changing, but as long as vehicles use conventional internal combustion engines, it’s clear that catalytic converters are here to stay.

Get a Replacement Catalytic Converter that Fits Your Car

If you own a hybrid vehicle that uses a catalytic converter, you best keep an eye on it lest it get stolen. A missing catalytic converter can cause a ton of problems, including loud noises and increased harmful exhaust gas emissions. If your hybrid vehicle’s catalytic converter goes missing, consider getting a new one from CarParts.com.

The CarParts.com catalog includes a wide range of parts at different price points. Picking the right one might seem like a large chore, but thankfully, our website also has a built-in vehicle selector. Just input your hybrid vehicle’s year, make, and model, and you’re good to go. We guarantee that all the catalytic converters you view with the vehicle selector will fit your vehicle perfectly. If it doesn’t, you can take advantage of our 60-day return policy.

Keep your hybrid vehicle environmentally friendly and replace its missing catalytic converter as soon as possible. Order a new catalytic converter at CarParts.com now.