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

  • froh42@lemmy.world
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    5 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.

    • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.worldOP
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      5 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@lemmy.world
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        5 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.