The automobile, which is four-wheeled and designed for passenger transportation and commonly propelled by an internal-combustion engine using a volatile fuel, has become one of the most important inventions in human history. It changed the way people lived, work, and play. It gave rise to new industries and jobs. It required new roads and other infrastructure improvements. It demanded the use of a variety of chemicals, including petroleum and gasoline, rubber, and plastics. It has also led to the creation of many services, such as motels and convenience stores.
The modern automobile consists of several structural and mechanical systems that have evolved from breakthroughs in science and engineering, as well as technological advances in materials like high-strength steel and advanced polymers. These systems include the body, containing the passengers and storage space, which sits on top of the chassis or steel frame; the internal-combustion gasoline engine, which powers the car by using fuel to fire up and run its cylinders; and the steering and braking systems, which control the motion of the vehicle. Other components include the electrical system, which is powered by a battery and alternator; a cooling system; and a lubrication, filtration, and suspension system.
There are about 1.4 billion automobiles on the world’s roads today, and most of them are in the United States, where drivers cover more than three trillion miles each year. The first cars were powered by steam or electricity, and while they could travel fast and achieve great distances, they had many limitations. For example, they could not accelerate rapidly or start easily, and their range was limited by the need to find recharging stations. Gasoline-powered automobiles began to dominate the world’s streets after they were introduced in 1885 by German inventor Karl Benz.
With their increased freedom of movement, automobiles facilitated the growth of leisure activities, such as shopping and visiting friends. The cars also fueled the expansion of new businesses, such as gas stations and convenience stores, and created many new jobs. They accelerated social changes, such as the expansion of women’s rights and the development of new laws, such as those requiring seatbelts and highway rules.
Automobiles brought pollution and other environmental problems, such as the destruction of wild areas to build roads. They also put a strain on the world’s dwindling supply of fossil fuels. However, they are still the most convenient form of transportation in many parts of the world.
In recent years, the automotive industry has been under pressure to improve quality and design. But in the 1950s, engineering was often subordinated to questionable aesthetics and nonfunctional styling. Quality deteriorated to the point that by the 1960s American cars were being delivered with twenty-four defects per unit, many of them safety related. The profits that Detroit was making on “gas-guzzlers” were paid at the expense of public health and a drain on dwindling oil supplies. As a result, many Americans have begun to turn away from the automobile in favor of walking and using public transportation or carpooling with their friends.