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How did the growth of automobile use increase demand for petroleum in the early 20th century?

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Multiple large offshore petroleum oil rigs with cranes and equipment stand in the ocean, connected by walkways above the water. — petroleum Liquid petroleum (crude oil)—which is refined into gasoline, diesel, heating fuels, asphalt, plastics, and other useful chemical compounds—is often extracted from the ground using a series of drills and pumps.

The rise of the automobile in the early 20th century fundamentally shifted the global energy landscape, transforming petroleum from a source primarily used for illuminants into a vital energy commodity. As the internal-combustion engine became the standard power source for motor vehicles, the demand for gasoline grew rapidly, eventually outpacing the market requirements for kerosene.12

By 1910, this surge in automotive fuel consumption pressured the petroleum industry to innovate, leading to the development of thermal cracking. This process allowed refiners to split heavy, less-valuable oil molecules into the lighter, high-demand fractions needed for automobile engines. The subsequent adoption of mass production techniques in the automotive industry further accelerated vehicle ownership, cementing petroleum's role as the primary energy source for the modern world economy. This transition was so profound that, by mid-century, the automobile was recognized as the primary driver behind petroleum becoming the most consumed fuel in the United States.2134