The Royal Navy already possessed colliers, specialized loading equipment, and harbor facilities around the world; oil initially possessed none of that mature support. A rapid conversion would impose enormous cost and risk while officials still had to decide how much government investment was needed to start the new system. The comparison with modern battery, hydrogen, and other energy networks centers on the same uncertainty over infrastructure. Even a navy capable of radical change needed evidence that the operational advantage justified replacing so much sunk infrastructure.
Chapter · 40:20-44:46
Oil had to replace a mature worldwide coal system
The coal-to-oil decision required rebuilding cranes, transport, storage, and harbor services accumulated across a century, making implementation cost as important as engine performance.