Nissan to halve catalyst precious metal use in Cube

TOKYO (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) said on Friday it would introduce technology that would halve the amount of precious metals used in emission-cleaning catalysts in the new Cube, to be launched next week.

Japan's No.3 automaker had said previously it would start employing the technology early next year on all new gasoline models. It plans to share the technology with Renault SA (RENA.PA), which owns 44 percent of Nissan, and apply it also in diesel engines, it said in a statement.

Using particles as small as a few billionths of a meter, nanotechnology prevents fine metal particles from clustering in catalysts, enabling engineers to use smaller amounts of precious metals to clean exhaust emissions.

The new catalyst would cut the use of precious metals to 0.65 grams from 1.3 grams, while also improving efficiency with 75 percent less nitrogen oxide (NOx) and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) emitted.

Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T), owned one-third by Ford Motor Co (F.N), has achieved a similar feat using single-nanotechnology, which will allow it to slash platinum and palladium use by up to 90 percent. Mazda has not said when the technology will be put to use.

Driven by tighter emissions laws, auto industry use of platinum rose more than 8 percent last year and now accounts for some 60 percent of total demand for the metal, which is also used for jewelry.

(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Michael Watson)