Automobiles have revolutionized the world, providing us with the freedom to go where we want, when we want, and how we want. With 1.4 billion cars in operation today and 70 million new ones built each year, modern life would be inconceivable without the automobile. The modern automobile combines a complex combination of engineering, technology, and social and economic factors that make it a major part of the world’s economy.
The scientific and technical building blocks of the automobile can be traced back several hundred years, starting with the invention of the internal combustion engine in the late 1600s. A few decades later, French inventor Nicolas Cugnot developed the first steam-powered vehicle that could be steered and controlled.
In the 1870s, a few years after Henry Ford introduced his model T and revolutionized industrial production, automobiles made rapid progress in the United States because of cheap raw materials and the absence of tariff barriers that encourage sales over a large geographical area. In the United States, car prices were so low that middle-class families could afford to buy them. As demand grew, the automobile’s design evolved from an experiment in luxury into a mass-produced consumer good that was a powerful force for change.
Thousands of individual parts make up the modern automobile, which has been compared to the human body in its complexity and interdependency. Just like the human circulatory system, the engine—the heart of the automobile—has a series of interconnected systems that provide coolant, lubricating oil, and fuel for its function.
The chassis—like the skeleton of the human body—provides support for all of these systems, and the body provides safety, comfort, and protection from the elements for the automobile’s passengers. A car’s exterior must also satisfy standards for size and weight, aerodynamics (ways to reduce friction between air and the vehicle), and appearance.
Passenger vehicles are the most popular form of the automobile, with around 1.4 billion cars in operation and another 70 million built each year worldwide. Other kinds of automobiles include commercial vehicles, such as trucks and tempos, as well as special purpose vehicles, such as ambulances and police cars. Aside from their basic functions, these automobiles have their own unique features and designs that distinguish them from each other. These features can be anything from heated seats to killer sound systems that enhance your driving experience. But despite all of the variety, they are all designed to serve the same function—to get you from one place to another. In short, a car saves you time and energy that you would otherwise spend waiting for buses or trains, transferring from one mode of transportation to the other, and dealing with crowded spaces. You can even take more luggage and shopping with you than you would be able to on public transportation, making your everyday errands much easier.