Did Big Oil Conspire to Kneecap the EV Industry?

https://jacobin.com/2026/02/fossil-fuels-michigan-trump-lawsuit

123 points · 17 comments · view on lemmy.world

17 Comments

A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 34 pts · 212d (3 replies)

Is that really phrased as a question?

It's been a truism for decades. Well, starting with more effective engines. The fabled 3-litre-car (if anyone remembers) could have been widespread reality since... idk the 90s I guess, but it never happened thanks to oil lobbies.

edit: oops that was eurocentric I guess. "3-litre-car" means that it consumes 3 litres of fuel on 100km. And such cars did and do exist but were never developed & advertised as they would have deserved.

GreyEyedGhost@piefed.ca · 7 pts · 212d (2 replies)

I had a 1-liter, 3-cylinder car in the 90s. No fable, but people wanted bigger cars that cost more to operate.

A_norny_mousse@piefed.zip · 2 pts · 212d (1 reply)

How much fuel did it consume on 100km?

It's true, such cars were not fabled, but rare and never advertised as they would have deserved. I once drove a 1980s Diesel Opel station wagon a few hundred kilometers to haul some stuff, mostly on the motorway, mostly very conservative driving, and it used 3 liters / 100km.

GreyEyedGhost@piefed.ca · 1 pts · 211d

About 4 L, depending on the load and work type.

Chozo@fedia.io · 25 pts · 212d (1 reply)

Does a bear shit in the woods?

HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 211d

Betteridge is unreliable

TrickDacy@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 212d (1 reply)

There's literally a popular documentary proving this, called "Who Killed the Electric Car?"

Yes. The answer is fuckin obviously yes.

KnitWit@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 212d

The end when all the owners were begging to keep their cars. Imagine where the technology would be now if they had allowed it to flourish then.

DrSleepless@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 212d

Always

AnchoriteMagus@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 212d (1 reply)

Big Oil has historically kneecapped any legislation, technology, or competition that could conceivably endanger their dominance of the market. It's been a core operating principle of the entire industry since the days of Henry Ford.

DeathsEmbrace@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 212d

They would kill people over that capitalism baby

Galapagon@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 212d

Didn't read the article, can confirm yes.

CatLitterArchitect@piefed.social · 6 pts · 211d

Well duuh.

TomMasz@piefed.social · 3 pts · 212d

Who else has the motive, means, and opportunity?

ChicoSuave@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 212d

Literally any ham fisted conspiracy idea is true. Big money has control over your life and there is nothing anyone can do. Legally...

ramble81@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 212d

Yes. Next question.

HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 212d

Have for decades