Another Electric Vehicle Benefit: No Catalytic Converters To Be Stolen - CleanTechnica

The article highlights a lesser-known benefit of fully electric vehicles (EVs): they do not have catalytic converters, which are common targets for theft in gasoline-powered cars. Catalytic converter theft has become a significant problem in the U.S., with estimates suggesting between 600,000 to 700,000 thefts annually. The average replacement cost ranges from $2,000 to over $2,500, leading to an estimated public repair cost exceeding $1.5 billion per year. This theft rate affects roughly 2% to 2.5% of the active vehicle population in the country. Many thefts go unreported due to lack of insurance coverage, making accurate data collection difficult. In contrast, fully electric vehicles lack catalytic converters and many other components prone to theft, such as mufflers and spark plugs, offering owners protection from this costly issue. Hybrids and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) still contain catalytic converters and remain vulnerable to theft. The article underscores that beyond environmental