🚗 Automotive Culture: The Oil Crisis

📅 March 19, 2025

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Today let's talk about an event everyone has heard of but few have deeply considered its massive influence on the automotive industry — the "Oil Crisis" of the 1970s. ⛽💥

For many new-generation car enthusiasts, the oil crisis of the 1970s seems distant and irrelevant. Some even claim we should "focus on the future," obsessed with electric cars that hit 0-100 km/h in two seconds ⚡🚘—yet many have no clue where the electricity comes from, let alone its future in nuclear fusion power. 🔋💡

Every generation has its own focus and blind spots. Knowledge should be comprehensive. Electric cars are undoubtedly the future, but that future isn’t now. We’re merely in the dawn of the electric age, preparing for the opportunities to come with the sunrise. 🌅🛠️

The first oil crisis was rooted in the Arab-Israeli war but essentially represented a classic proxy war between two superpowers—US and USSR—fighting for geopolitical dominance. 🌍💣

The crisis erupted on October 6, 1973, during the Yom Kippur War. While Egypt and Syria targeted Israel to reclaim Sinai and Golan Heights, the real players behind the scenes were the Cold War giants supplying arms and intelligence. 🌐🛰️

But this isn’t a history lesson about war—it’s a story about how such events revolutionized car development. Even in today’s car tech era, the impact lingers. 🏎️🔧

We’re still living in the aftermath, with automotive tech largely stagnant since the 90s. The end of this fossil-fuel era, in the author's view, will begin when the first commercial fusion power plant is launched—possibly in 5 to 10 years. ⚙️🔮

⛽ Fuel limits (10 gallons/car ~ 38L) from that era are why today’s cars have ~40L fuel tanks. Previously, big cars had tanks over 100L. 🛢️🚗

Gasoline (a flammable by-product of oil distillation) evolved from solvent to primary engine fuel. Otto engines (named after Nicolaus Otto) follow the Otto cycle but were based on the four-stroke theory invented by French engineer Alphonse Eugène Beau de Rochas. 👨‍🔬🔬

💡 Even the earliest gas was sold in pharmacies! With time, better refining methods (e.g., Burton thermal cracking in 1911) helped fuel the first automotive boom.

📉 During the crisis, Europe turned to public transit 🚲🚌, and US fuel stations went dry. ⚠️

After WWII, Middle East oil became crucial for Europe. In 1968, OAPEC was formed to pressure the West. After the 1973 war, they cut oil output, quadrupling prices. 💸🔥

➡️ This led to the US automotive decline, due to lack of small engine tech. Europe turned to compact cars and diesel; Japan seized the opportunity. 🚙🌸

Japanese firms, already investing in small engines, gained global ground—Honda Accord is a prime example. 📈💼

The second oil crisis in 1979 followed Iran’s revolution. Oil production fell, prices soared again (>$40/barrel), worsening the energy cost spiral. 🔥💰

This time, the shift was from carburetors to fuel injection tech, boosting Japanese car dominance. 🛠️🚗

By 1980, Japan became the world’s #1 auto producer. Their rise reshaped global industry until the 2000s, when Europe began recovering post-Japan’s bubble crash. 📊🔄

So next time someone asks "Why Americans love Japanese cars," remember those gas lines from the 80s. It’s not just about preference—it’s survival instinct. 🇯🇵❤️🇺🇸

📚 The author offers a balanced perspective—not glorifying anyone, but emphasizing historical context