Automobiles are vehicles that use an engine to drive their wheels. They may be powered by gasoline (carburetor internal combustion), diesel, gas (balloon gas), electric or any other fuel. They are designed to carry passengers and cargo. Each car has an engine, transmission, chassis, bodywork, control system, electrical equipment, and service devices.
The first cars were steam powered and attached to wagons in the 18th century. They were slow and hard to control. Better steam engines made automobiles more reliable and faster by the end of that century. In the 19th century automobiles became more affordable as the technology improved. By 1920 the automobile dominated the streets and highways of Europe and America. Henry Ford revolutionized the manufacturing of cars by using assembly lines to turn out a lot of them quickly and cheaply. This reduced the price of his Model T and made them available to most middle-class families.
Most modern automobiles are powered by internal combustion engines that burn fuel to create electricity. The electric energy can be sent to the wheels of the car to make it go faster or slower, or to other devices to power things like lights and air conditioning. An automobile’s engine can also convert the energy of motion into kinetic energy to stop it when a brake pedal is pressed. Some cars have regenerative brakes that return the energy of motion to the battery and make it recharge.
Having your own car means you can avoid traffic jams that can keep you from getting to work on time. You can also take alternate routes if construction or an accident is blocking your usual route. Some people who live in areas with sparse public transportation options consider it essential to have their own vehicle.
The earliest automobiles were usually built by wealthy people and used for pleasure trips. By the 1880s inventors were working on ways to make them more reliable and affordable. The first one to make a practical car was Karl Benz, who created his Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1885.
From the time of its invention until about 1910, most cars were custom built for each buyer. It wasn’t until after that that businessman and engineer Henry Ford figured out how to make production fast enough to make them affordable for most Americans.
The automobile has become an icon of American culture. From the first Model Ts that rolled off the production line to sleek mid-century modern designs that sprang up in the 1950s, the nation’s economic growth and industrialization revolved around the automobile.
Some people worry about the environmental impact of automobiles. They are a major source of greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming. Many states have laws in place to reduce the amount of pollutants that are emitted by cars. Others, such as California, have gone further by banning or restricting some types of cars altogether. Fortunately, new technologies are reducing the emissions of most automobiles. Some of these innovations include hybrids and electric cars.
