With all of the technological advances lately, couldn’t a catalytic converter be designed with cheaper materials that aren’t worth stealing?

Question

With all of the technological advances lately, couldn’t a catalytic converter be designed with cheaper materials that aren’t worth stealing?

In: 2057

Answer 1

Catalytic converters process hot exhaust gases. Common metals oxidize readily at these temperatures, so they don’t last very long. Only rare metals will survive long enough to be worth building into the exhaust system.