Detective William Murdoch: Mr. Ford, why would a car that uses a gasoline engine need a battery?
Henry Ford: At present, the engine needs to be hand-cranked. It's a problem - especially for the weaker sex. Wallensky's battery is just what I needed for an electrical ignition.
Detective William Murdoch: So, it's just a coincidence then that by deprivng Mr. Pendrick of Mr. Wallensky of his battery, you would also be crushing your main competition.
Henry Ford: I'm an engineer, Detective. I build cars. If I thought the electric car was superior, I would build electric cars, but the fact is the gasoline engine is superior.
Detective William Murdoch: I've driven Mr. Pendrick's bullet. It was very impressive.
Henry Ford: I've no doubt of that. I'm sure it's lightweight, streamlined.
Detective William Murdoch: Yes, very much so.
Henry Ford: It has to be, but the gasoline-powered car, on the other hand, can weigh a ton and look like an egg crate, but it can be driven a thousand miles because all it takes to keep it going is another tank of gasoline, and gas is cheap and always will be. There's an ocean of oil under the Texas desert.