Automobiles
Automobiles are vehicles that are designed for the transportation of passengers and goods. They are powered by engines which run on different fuels like petrol, diesel, CNG or electricity. The Automobile industry is one of the largest in the world. There are more than 1.4 billion automobiles in operation today. This makes automobiles the most common mode of transport in the world. Automobiles have become an indispensable part of our lives and are used for almost all purposes.
The word “automobile” comes from the Latin words auto (meaning self) and mobility (meaning moving). There is a broad range of designs for automobiles. Some are driven by steam, others by gasoline or other chemical fuels, and still others by electrical energy stored in batteries. The amount of energy that an automobile’s motor can send to the wheels is measured in horsepower or kilowatts.
Many engineers and inventors worked on the development of the modern automobile. Karl Benz, an engineer from Germany, is widely credited with inventing the first true automobile around 1885/1886. He designed a three-wheeled vehicle with the Otto Cycle gasoline engine. He also invented an accelerator for speed regulation, a battery ignition system, and other features that made his automobile more practical.
After Benz came Henry Ford, an American businessman and engineer who created the first mass-produced automobiles that average people could afford. He introduced the assembly line to automobile production, allowing him to make cars much more quickly and at lower cost. As a result, his Model T automobile was the most popular car of all time.