Automobiles are very complicated machines that have many systems working together to make them run and operate. The heart of the automobile is the engine that produces the power that turns the wheels and electricity to run lights and other systems. The engine is powered by a gasoline, diesel or other fuel that is burned in the combustion process.
Modern automobiles are complex technical systems with thousands of component parts that have evolved from breakthroughs in existing technology as well as new technologies such as electronic computers, high-strength plastics and alloys of steel and nonferrous metals. These systems work to control and steer the automobile and provide safety features for the passengers. They are designed to protect people in the event of an accident or other incidents on the road. Specialized automobiles are also used for specific tasks such as crane vehicles on construction sites, road rollers or in warehouses and emergency cars like fire engines, ambulances and patrol vehicles.
OPENS UP THE WORLD: One of the main reasons why people acquire vehicles is because they can travel much farther than they did before without an automobile. This means that they have more options on where they can live and how they might want to organize their life in relation to their career or social life.
Most people who own vehicles tell you that their lives have become much easier since they acquired them. They have more time for other activities because they don’t have to spend hours traveling from one place to another with the risk of missing their appointments. In fact, it is hard to imagine a modern life that does not include an automobile because most of us depend on them for our daily transportation needs.
The first automobiles were steam-powered. A Frenchman named Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the first steam-driven car in 1769, but it had three wheels and moved very slowly. Manufacturers produced steam-powered cars into the 1890s, but they were heavy and expensive. Henry Ford introduced the automobile assembly line in 1913 and revolutionized production methods by having workers stay in one place while cars move through the factory on a conveyor belt. This made it possible for him to sell millions of Model T automobiles.
After the first World War (1914-18), manufacturers introduced innovations such as electric ignition, the electrical self-starter and four-wheel brakes. During this period, most cars were sold by automobile companies under various brand names so that consumers could “move up” as their income improved.
In the 1980s, economic prosperity and stable fuel prices led to an increased interest in smaller, more economical vehicles. In the 1990s, demand shifted to SUVs and minivans with their greater cargo capacities and passenger seats. In the 2000s, rising fuel prices and environmental concerns led to a revival of interest in electric and hybrid-electric cars. Today, there are more than 73 million automobiles on the roads worldwide. Many of these are privately owned by individuals, and others are operated by companies, organizations or governments.