Mercedes Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid by Rich

The Guardian shares that in a first of its kind complaint, the State of Michigan has filed a complaint accusing big oil of being ‘cartel’ that fuels climate crisis and high energy costs:

…the state’s attorney general, Dana Nessel, accused four fossil fuel majors and the top US oil lobbying group last month of acting as a “cartel” to stifle the growth of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs), while suppressing information about the dangers of the climate crisis. The conduct, the lawsuit alleged, violates federal and state antitrust laws.

The companies’ “collusion” drove up Michigan utility costs and slowed the transition away from gas-powered cars, according to the filing. Absent the industry’s efforts to repress clean technology, EVs “would be a common sight in every neighborhood – rolling off assembly lines in Flint, parked in driveways in Dearborn, charging outside grocery stores in Grand Rapids, and running quietly down Woodward Avenue”, it said.

Electricity costs in Michigan have surged, with average residential rates increasing by nearly 120% in the last two decades. And though electric car adoption is increasing, EVs and hybrids accounted for less than 4% of total registered vehicles statewide last year.

Rich took this photo at the North American International Auto Show way back in 2015. It won Best Photo in their 2015 Photo Contest & you can see more below and in his Detroit 2015 NAIAS gallery on Flickr.