Automobiles are vehicles designed for transporting people and goods over roads. They can be powered by petrol, diesel, gas, balloon fuel, electricity or a combination of these systems. There are many types of automobiles including passenger cars, trucks, vans and sports cars. There are also special automobiles for emergency use such as fire engines and ambulances. Passenger cars are now the dominant mode of transportation in the United States, with more than three trillion kilometers (five trillion miles) traveled each year.
Modern automobiles are complex machines with hundreds of parts that all work together. The heart of every car is its engine, which produces the power that turns the wheels and electricity to light the vehicle and run other systems. An engine is made up of a series of mechanical parts that are connected to a transmission system and then to the wheels. An automobile’s suspension and brakes are designed to absorb road shocks and vibrations.
The history of the automobile has been a dramatic one, changing society in ways that would have seemed unthinkable only a few decades ago. From the first Model T Fords that rolled off the assembly line in the early 1900s to the artful mid-century modern designs that cruised the U.S. highways and byways in the 1950s, automobiles have become an enduring part of American culture.
During the late 1800s and early 1900s European inventors such as Gottlieb Daimler, Karl Benz, and Nicolaus Otto perfected their versions of the horseless carriage, but the United States came to dominate world automotive production during the first half of the twentieth century when Henry Ford innovated mass-production techniques. After the end of World War II the United States began to lose market share to Japan, Germany and other foreign automakers who produced smaller, more functionally designed vehicles.
Pros:
Having a car gives you the freedom to travel where and when you want without having to rely on other people or public transportation. This is especially important if you have to make an appointment that you can’t afford to miss, such as a job interview or an event you have planned with friends. Having a car can also help you get a good mortgage rate if you need to borrow money for a home because it shows that you can afford to make regular payments on a loan.
Cons:
Using an automobile causes millions of deaths each year from traffic accidents and it pollutes the air that we breathe. In addition, automobiles can cause a lot of stress because they are often difficult to keep in good working condition and finding a parking space is sometimes challenging. If you own a car, you’ll also need to spend time on routine maintenance and keeping up with the cost of fuel and insurance. Lastly, having a car requires you to maintain registration and pay for license plates. These expenses can add up to a substantial amount of money over the years.
