poroporo on 01 January 2012
Patents.
When new technologies (batteries, etc.) are developed, interested parties (oil companies, etc.) rush to buy the patents and lock them up so they are never used. When oil becomes unprofitable, they will have all the necessary technology under their belt to switch from an industry to another and continue making money.
Smart! Heck, that's what I would do if I were an oil exec.
