Automobiles have changed the world in a variety of ways. They save time, transport you safer, and they allow you to do more of the things you want.
The word automobile comes from the French auto (of itself) + mobile, which means capable of moving. This is a great term for vehicles because they move on their own and don’t need help from a horse or another external source to move.
Automotive systems are complex technical systems that consist of thousands of component parts, often developed through breakthroughs in existing technologies or by new developments in high-strength plastics and other materials. The system may also include various other subsystems with specific design functions.
Engine
The most important part of an automobile is the engine. There are many different kinds of engines and each one has a different function. The most common ones are gas, diesel, and electricity powered.
History
The first successful automobile was invented around 1885 by Karl Benz, a German engineer. Benz designed and built a two-wheeled vehicle in which the wheels were driven by a four-stroke engine. Benz’s vehicle was used to demonstrate the operation of his engine.
Benz’s second automobile was a three-wheeled vehicle with seats, brakes, and steering, and it was also fitted with a four-stroke engine of his own design. This was the first gasoline-powered car and was tested in Vienna in 1870.
He patented his vehicle in 1885 and began selling it to buyers, who paid him a royalty. Other engineers followed Benz’s lead and also produced automobiles, but his was the first to use a modern internal combustion engine.
His design was later adopted by Henry Ford, who expanded on Benz’s concept of mass production and introduced the assembly line to produce automobiles that were affordable for most people.
This revolutionized the automobile industry, making it more accessible to all Americans and allowing a much wider range of people to own cars. It helped to increase sales and ushered in the automobile as the dominant means of personal transportation.
In the United States, the number of passenger automobiles increased from fewer than 10 million in 1912 to more than 1.4 billion in 2010. The rise of mass personal transportation was accompanied by federal regulations that imposed safety standards, increased emission levels, and escalating fuel costs.
The automobile also helped to stimulate outdoor recreation and tourism. It brought urban amenities to rural America, and it was a catalyst for the growth of suburbs and cities.
The automobile also sparked the development of highways, which have become a major public works program in the United States and around the world. The highways provide access to jobs, shopping, education, and healthcare. The highways also reduce the cost of travel and have eliminated the need for long and expensive railroad journeys.
