Did they have to track down leaded gas? Did they just use unleaded? Did they suffer engine knock?

  • @someguy3OP
    link
    18 months ago

    Why was Germany so late in adding catalytic converters?

    • @froh42
      link
      28 months ago

      Tbh, I have no idea. The whole of Europe was late to this. The first catalytic conveter cars were sold in 1973 in the US and 1985 in Germany.

      Switzerland made them obligatory in 1986, Germany made them obligatory only in 1993 - because that was an EU-wide regulation.

      The only thing I can imagine is the big political influence car makers have in Germany, but that’s just “what sounds reasonable to me”, no proof.

      • @someguy3OP
        link
        18 months ago

        Could it be that gas stations in Europe had no room for another tank? So maybe the governments kept putting it off.

        • @froh42
          link
          18 months ago

          As gas stations have enough room for more expensive “ultimate” versions of fuel, I don’t think that’s the reason. You can frequently get two kinds of Diesel and three kinds of Gas at the pump.

          O. t. o. h…maybe the whole “premium fuel” hype resulted from stations having additional tanks after leaded fuel was phased out.