Automobiles are one of the most universal and widely used of all modern technologies. The term automobile is most commonly applied to any motor vehicle designed primarily for passenger transportation on land, usually having four wheels and propelled by an internal combustion engine powered most often by gasoline, a liquid petroleum product. The automotive industry is the largest of all manufacturing industries and a highly competitive field of technology, utilizing a wide range of subsystems that have evolved from breakthroughs in many different scientific fields.
The scientific and technical building blocks of the automobile go back several hundred years. The first automobiles were run on steam, electric power, or a combination of both. Steam-powered cars could travel at high speeds but were difficult to start, and battery-powered electric cars had a limited range and recharging stations were inconvenient. By the late 19th century, however, the automobile had become a common sight on America’s streets and byways thanks to the invention of gasoline-powered engines.
In the beginning, automobiles were extremely expensive and only affordable to the very rich. But as the automotive industry evolved, manufacturers figured out how to make them more affordable and people began buying them by the millions. The success of the Model T, introduced by Henry Ford in 1910, revolutionized automobile production and brought them within the reach of middle-class families.
Today, there are more than 73 million automobiles on the world’s roads. Most are driven by men and women who would find it inconceivable to live without them, especially those who work at jobs that require frequent trips from home to workplace.
Automobiles are designed with a number of safety features to protect the driver and passengers. However, as with all motorized vehicles, accidents can occur. Drivers can be distracted or fall asleep at the wheel, the tires can lose traction on slippery surfaces, and the mechanical systems can fail due to wear or improper maintenance. Some of these accidents can be very serious, even deadly.
There are many benefits of owning an automobile. One major benefit is independence and freedom. Unlike using public transportation, which requires planning and scheduling around bus and train schedules, drivers can leave when they want and arrive where they need to be, when they need to be there. Taking advantage of this freedom can help reduce stress and improve health. Depending on others for transport can also be dangerous and frustrating.
The word automobile was first recorded in the English language in 1879 in a newspaper article about George Selden’s patent for a “road machine.” Other names for these early vehicles include carriages, road locomotives, carrosse, automobil, chariote, buggy, motor car, mocar, velocipede, and vogue. The name came from the Greek words for self and motion, because the vehicles moved themselves through the use of an engine. The modern automobile consists of thousands of interrelated components. Some of these components include the engine, chassis, bodywork, electrical equipment, and service devices. The engine can be gasoline, diesel, balloon gas, or solar. The power of the engine is converted to torque by a transmission system, and that is transferred to the wheels.
