Nobody mandated the internal combustion engine achieve a certain market saturation over the horse and buggy.
There were no “coalitions” to advocate for the internal combustion engine.
Yet somehow, things worked out.
Yet somehow, things worked out.
To start out with, you didn't have to hitch old Dobbin to the buckboard in the cold and rain. So score one for the horseless carriage.
On the other hand, you risked getting an arm broken every time you cranked a Model T. And if you travelling more than 10 miles, you were almost certain to have a flat tire. A tire pump and patches were necessities.
In spite of a little adversity, spark ignition and compression ignition engines found their true place in society. And there hasn't been much out there to rival the internal combustion engine over the past century, at least.
I frankly doubt that the IC engine will be displaced this century.