Emissions Control Systems and Methods for Vehicles

An apparatus comprising:

• a first catalytic converter including a three way catalyst, the first catalytic converter receiving an exhaust generated by a rich burn spark-ignited internal combustion engine in a vehicle;
• a second catalytic converter in fluid communication with the first catalytic converter;
• a conduit extending from the first catalytic converter to the second catalytic converter;
• a valve coupled to the conduit;
• and
• a controller in electrical communication with the valve, wherein the valve opens to allow air into the conduit when a temperature of the exhaust is lower than a temperature set point.

A method of reducing emissions from a vehicle, the method comprising:

• generating exhaust from a spark-ignited internal combustion engine in the vehicle, the engine operating with a rich-burn air-fuel ratio (AFR);
• passing the exhaust through a first catalytic converter that includes a first three way catalyst, the first catalytic converter reducing a first concentration of nitrogen oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbons (CxHy) compounds in the exhaust;
• passing the exhaust through a second catalytic converter that includes a second three way catalyst, the second catalytic converter reducing a second concentration of CO and CxHy in the exhaust, the second catalytic converter disposed downstream of the first catalytic converter;
• with an air injector or a valve, adding air to the exhaust, as the exhaust passes through a conduit extending from the first catalytic converter to the second catalytic converter, when an exhaust temperature is less than a set point temperature;
• and
• stopping the air addition when the exhaust temperature is greater than the set point temperature.