at the cool side of each thermoelectric ers 56 this prevents each thermoelectric ers 56 from converting thermal energy of the exhaust gases into electrical energy and therefore facilitates heating of the catalytic converter 54 after the automobile 66 has been operating for a period of typically several minutes the temperature of the catalytic converter 54 rises substantially due to the continual flow of the exhaust gases through the catalytic converter 54 eventually the temperature of the catalytic converter 54 reaches the preset reference temperature programmed into the controller 60 accordingly the temperature sensor 64 relays this information in the form of a temperature data signal to the controller 60 in turn the controller 60 causes the actuator 62 to resume flow of coolant at the cool side of each thermoelectric ers 56 this causes each thermoelectric ers 56 to convert thermal energy from the flowing exhaust gases into electrical energy which is typically stored in the onboard vehicle battery 68 therefore the temperature of the exhaust gases flowing through the catalytic converter 54 is reduced causing a corresponding reduction in the temperature of the catalytic converter 54 below the reference temperature at that point the controller 60 responsive to a temperature input signal from the temperature sensor 64 causes the actuator 62 to terminate further flow of coolant at the cool side of each thermoelectric ers 56 therefore each thermoelectric ers 56 no longer converts thermal energy from the exhaust gases into electrical energy consequently the temperature of each thermoelectric ers 56 again increases to the reference temperature at which point the controller 60 resumes operation of each thermoelectric ers 56 and the cycle is repeated to.