Breaking the Path Dependency of the Internal Combustion Engine.

Abstract

The dominance of the internal combustion engine appears to be waning. Recognition that oil, the driving force behind the internal combustion engine, is a limited and therefore unsustainable resource has provided the impetus for the development of alternative powertrains. In this paper we consider how the internal combustion engine controls the market, while identifying the barriers for change, and, finally, examine the potential replacement of the internal combustion engine with a sustainable alternative.