Automobiles are motorized vehicles for transporting people and things. They can be powered by gasoline, diesel fuel, electric power, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or other fuels. Automobiles can be made in a wide variety of styles and sizes. The most common type of automobile is the passenger car. In recent years, it has become the primary form of family transportation in the United States. People drive more than three trillion miles (5 billion kilometres) in them every year. There are also trucks, buses, and special purpose automobiles such as fire engines, sanitary vehicles, mobile cranes, and infantry fighting vehicles.
Many different inventors and engineers have contributed to the design of automobiles. Some of the earliest were steam engines attached to wagons in the late 18th century. They were slow and hard to control. Better and faster cars came later in the 19th century. Karl Benz of Germany is generally credited with inventing the modern automobile, but other engineers and inventors had their own ideas about how to make an automobile that would work well and be affordable. Henry Ford of the United States is famous for his invention of the assembly line, which allowed him to produce automobiles quickly and cheaply so that more Americans could afford them.
Today, there are more than five million different types of automobiles in the world. Most of these are made in the countries of Asia, Europe, and North America. They are used in nearly all the world’s cities. In some cities, automobiles cause traffic congestion and pollute the air. But in general they are a good way to get from one place to another because they are much faster than walking or riding bikes, and can carry more luggage. They can also go places that other wheeled transport cannot, such as on dirt roads.
Some automobiles have brakes that work by friction to stop the vehicle quickly in an emergency. Others use regenerative brakes, which turn the energy of their movement back into electricity. This is similar to how electric motors work, except the opposite direction. This process reduces the amount of energy used, and is especially helpful in stopping a moving vehicle in a parking lot.
The automobile industry is very important to the world economy, as it produces jobs and creates demand for other goods and services. It is also responsible for a great deal of pollution. The safety of passengers and the environment are very important issues in the automotive industry. New technologies are being developed to increase the efficiency of automobiles and reduce their emissions. These technologies are being tested and refined by research and development engineers around the world. This work is essential to keep the automobile industry competitive in the global market. It is estimated that the global automobile industry will be worth more than $1 trillion in 2025.
