Renewable Revolution

The precursors of ExxonMobil have been patenting technologies for electric cars and low emissions vehicles since as early as 1963 while fighting against government funding for the same research.

Newly discovered records show that the oil giants like Esso had as many as 18 patents, including a process to produce electricity in a fuel cell and engine technology to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency.

At the same time, the main oil lobby, the American Petroleum Institute, opposed government funding, saying they took “exception to the basic assumption”     that clean air is possible only through an alternative to oil-burning vehicles.

Alan Jeffers, an Exxon spokesman, refused to comment on the documents. (Guardian, Gizmodo, MSNBC)

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/may/20/oil-company-records-exxon-co2-emission-reduction-patents