<story><title>Why thieves love to steal catalytic converters</title><url>https://thehustle.co/why-thieves-love-to-steal-catalytic-converters/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>iramiller</author><text>This would be easily solved if car manufacturers cared at all… simply cover the bottom of the car with panels. A side benefit would be the increased fuel economy from the cleaner airflow and reduction in drag (this is an inherit benefit of electric vehicles—-especially trucks). It’s not done because no one looks under their cars and it’s easier&amp;#x2F;cheaper to manufacture and design for cooling.&lt;p&gt;I should add that installing a simple piece of metal cut to fit over the bottom of your vehicle isn’t a great idea if it doesn’t properly account for the changes in ventilation and cooling that it causes.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>Someone1234</author><text>We&amp;#x27;re starting to see changes in vehicle design to address this but typically it is only during a major model redesign rather than between model years.&lt;p&gt;The popular solution, that is almost free, is simply moving the catalytic converter from mid-tailpipe to directly connected to the engine block. Essentially the CC is surrounded by the engine block itself on all sides, and you have to disassemble the entire engine from above to get to it.&lt;p&gt;But you&amp;#x27;re talking about 4~ years between redesigns and that doesn&amp;#x27;t address any of the vehicles already sold&amp;#x2F;tens of years of old designs.</text></comment>
<story><title>Why thieves love to steal catalytic converters</title><url>https://thehustle.co/why-thieves-love-to-steal-catalytic-converters/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>iramiller</author><text>This would be easily solved if car manufacturers cared at all… simply cover the bottom of the car with panels. A side benefit would be the increased fuel economy from the cleaner airflow and reduction in drag (this is an inherit benefit of electric vehicles—-especially trucks). It’s not done because no one looks under their cars and it’s easier&amp;#x2F;cheaper to manufacture and design for cooling.&lt;p&gt;I should add that installing a simple piece of metal cut to fit over the bottom of your vehicle isn’t a great idea if it doesn’t properly account for the changes in ventilation and cooling that it causes.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>bradlys</author><text>People buy at a price point. Adding those panels adds cost. You’d have to give something up to get those panels.&lt;p&gt;Luxury cars have had these panels for a long time because they’re built to a higher price point.</text></comment>