Replies

The oil companies will buy up the technology, just like they have many other potentially viable alternatives to what they produce and have invested in.

Where do you get that? Give us an example of technology the oil companies have "bought up"?

Those supposed replacements for the internal combustion engine either exist only in minds of econuts, have major practical technological problems, or are economically unviable in comparison to the internal combustion engine. When something is actually practical and economically competetive it will be produced. A good example is hybrid cars.

"Give us an example of technology the oil companies have "bought up"?

Back in the 70's a guy developed a device that used ultrasound emitters to atomize gasoline into very fine particles and mix them with air. This offered much more complete combustion and offered the promise of a trebeling of typical fuel mileage.

I believe that it was Standard Oil that bought all of the rights, notes and drawings to the process, in return for a substantial check and a lifetime ban on this guy doing any further research into this technology. He was even contractually barred from discussing it.

If anyone cares to look, there was one article in either Hot Rod or Car Craft magazine that had some pictures and a general description of the device and the concept behind it. They got the article out because the guy was a drag racer/engineer, and they got wind of it first because of the guys contacts and interest in the performance enhancing potential of the device.