PURPOSE: To prevent deterioration of a battery by a method wherein when a catalyst converter to control exhaust gas emission from an automobile is rapidly heated to a catalyst working temperature during starting, the whole of a catalyst is uniformly heated and especially when a power from an on- vehicle battery is utilized, a consumption power is minimized.
CONSTITUTION: By charging the heater 5a of a modifier 5 with a current accumulated at a battery 3, methanol of liquid is heated and modification to mixture gas consisting mainly of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is performed. The modified gas is stored in a storage tank 6 and during the starting of an automobile, the modified gas is fed to a catalyst converter 4. Mixture gas is caused to effect oxidation reaction by a catalyst in the converter, the catalyst is heated to a working temperature by means of heat generated through the reaction, and exhaust gas emission from an engine 1 is controlled.
OBARA SHINYA
ISHIKO YUKIMOTO
