10 Inventions Buried by Corporations Protecting Their Profits
This listicle looks at real inventions that once showed promise but faded after corporate interests stepped in.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Some inventions arrived too early and threatened industries that relied on old systems. Corporate influence shaped which ideas reached the public and which ones quietly disappeared. Each invention shows how innovation can stall when profits overshadow progress.
1. 1. General Motors EV1 Electric Car
Joe’s Garage on Wikimedia Commons
The EV1 was an early electric car that impressed drivers with quiet performance and reliable mileage. It gained loyal supporters who believed it could change how people approached transportation. Complaints grew when the program ended, and the cars were reclaimed. The decision strengthened the belief that products can disappear to protect long-term fuel profits.
2. 2. Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Wireless Power System
Napoleon Sarony on Wikimedia Commons
Tesla wanted to send electricity through the air to reach homes without wires. The Wardenclyffe Tower stood as the test site for his idea and drew curiosity from supporters. Funding collapsed when investors realized the system might reduce profit from traditional utilities. The project left behind questions about how far wireless power could have gone.
3. 3. Ogle Carburetor and the 100 Mile Per Gallon Car
Erik Mclean on Pexels
Tom Ogle revealed a modified fuel system that pushed incredible mileage numbers during tests. Stories circulated about cars running far longer on a single tank. Interest rose as he spoke about plans for more demonstrations. The invention faded after his death, and the idea no longer appeared in mainstream markets.
4. 4. Stanley Meyer’s Water Fuel Cell
ScribeOfTheNile~commonswiki (talk | contribs) Omegatron (talk | contribs) on Wikimedia Commons
Meyer claimed his device could split water into gases efficiently enough to power a car. He showcased vehicles that he said operated using the process. Several people who saw it believed it was the next wave of fuel innovation. The technology disappeared after legal battles and disputes that stopped further development.
5. 5. Philo Farnsworth’s Fusion Reactor
Harris & Ewing on Wikimedia Commons
Farnsworth built a compact fusion device called the Fusor and showed that it could produce fusion reactions. The idea looked like a path to smaller and safer energy production. Interest tapered when large laboratories kept control over fusion research. His approach remained in the background while expensive programs moved forward.
6. 6. Bell Labs Photophone Revival Attempts
Marey, Étienne-Jules (1830-1904), dans son ouvrage “Le Mouvement”, publié par Gallica on Wikimedia Commons
The original photophone used light to carry sound long before fiber optics arrived. Later attempts to revive the idea showed promise for fast communication methods. Research slowed when companies focused on cable-based infrastructure that delivered steady revenue. The photophone concept became a reference point for what could have been an early leap.
7. 7. Tesla Turbine
Stanislav Kozlovskiy on Wikimedia Commons
Tesla designed a bladeless turbine that used smooth discs to move fluids. It promised quiet motion and strong power output in compact form. Factories preferred traditional turbines because they relied on established parts and supply chains. The idea stayed in small research circles instead of becoming a major engine standard.
8. 8. Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard’s Absorption Refrigerator
Bohus1 on Wikimedia Commons
Einstein and Szilard designed a fridge that used no moving parts and no electricity. It aimed to make cooling safer during a time when leaks from older systems harmed families. Companies chose cheaper chemical coolants that created steady sales. Their invention stayed in archives until researchers revisited the design decades later.
9. 9. Compressed Air Powered Vehicles
Radtek67 at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia Commons
Engineers built cars that ran on compressed air stored in strong tanks. Early tests showed quiet travel and simple maintenance. Investments lost momentum when companies judged the system as a threat to fuel-based infrastructure. The idea remained experimental even though the core design worked well in trials.
10. 10. Ultracapacitor Energy Storage Designs
National Institute of Standards and Technology on Wikimedia Commons
Researchers demonstrated energy storage devices that charged fast and delivered strong output. They showed potential to reshape how batteries work in cars and electronics. Funding drifted toward systems that created longer profit cycles. Ultracapacitors stayed in labs even though their benefits interested many engineers.