How hot is platinum?

Valuable enough to steal, right out of your car. Tod Freeman of IBM's Venture Capital Group had spotted his piece recently. Doesn't take long to remove your catalytic converter and its tiny supply of high-priced platinum and rhodium.

This is an energy story coming and going. The platinum is used in catalytivc converters for internal combuston enginers around the world. And the supply of platinum is currently limited by South Africa's limited electricity supply.

Time for a new catalyst? Do I sense an opening for some enterprising start-up?