Automobiles, or cars, are motor vehicles that use an internal combustion engine to turn the wheels of the vehicle. The most common fuel used for automobiles is gasoline (also called petroleum or gas in American English). The engines of most modern cars are powered by burning a liquid that is stored in a tank under the hood. When the liquid is burned, it creates steam and turns the crankshaft of the engine. This crankshaft in turn drives the car’s transmission, which turns the wheels of the vehicle.
Automobiles provide a lot of convenience to people who own them. They can drive themselves to work and go places they want without having to rely on public transportation systems. Having a car also allows them to avoid traffic jams by leaving before or after other commuters. If they run into bad weather, an automobile gives them the freedom to take different routes that may get them to their destination quicker.
Despite being invented and perfected in the late 1800s, the automobile didn’t become commonplace until the 1920s when it became the backbone of a new consumer goods-oriented society. By the 1980s, one out of every six jobs in the United States was directly related to the automotive industry.
The automobile helped to spur the growth of tourism and travel-related industries, such as service stations, restaurants and motels. It also stimulated participation in outdoor recreation and led to the development of suburbs where families could live away from noisy and crowded urban areas. It has had many negative effects as well, including air pollution and greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
It is disputed who invented the automobile, with early accounts usually giving Karl Benz of Germany and Gottlieb Daimler of Austria credit. However, both men had patents for motorized vehicles in the 1880s and the first gasoline-powered automobile was sold in America in 1908. After that, auto production soared, especially with the invention of Henry Ford’s assembly line, which made it affordable for the masses.
Today, there are about one billion cars on the road worldwide. They can be divided into three major parts: the chassis, the drivetrain and the body. The chassis is the frame of the automobile and it houses the mechanical components such as the steering system, brakes, engine and suspension. The drivetrain is what makes the automobile move, and it is made of the axles and transmission system that connect the chassis to the wheels. The body is what holds the passengers and cargo, and it includes the front and rear bumpers, the hood, the storage trunk and all windows.
The environmental costs of automobiles are considerable, and they are not under the control of most consumers. Most of their impact is due to the fuel they consume and the emissions that result from it. Other factors include production, recycling and disposal. These processes leave a huge footprint, and the level of impact is usually proportional to the size of the vehicle.
