The Automobile – The Promise and the Pitfalls
The automobile, with its power to transport us anywhere and at any time, symbolizes the promise and the pitfalls of the modern world. While the car has brought many conveniences and social benefits, it also creates pollution, congestion, and sprawl that can cause environmental harm. But it can also bring style and status, along with freedom of movement and mobility that would be difficult or impossible without a car.
The first automobiles were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s by Carl Benz of Germany and Emile Roger of France, using their own versions of the internal combustion engine. In 1913, American manufacturer Henry Ford revolutionized automotive production with his assembly-line methods. He employed a team of workers to move along a conveyor belt, each doing one small part of a larger task as parts came from the factory ahead of them. This allowed for mass production at a lower price, making the automobile affordable for middle-class families.
After the First World War, car makers began to add more comforts like heating and air conditioning. They also improved safety and made cars easier to drive. They developed steel bodies and replaced their wooden frames with lighter, stronger materials. They added power steering, automatic transmissions, and other conveniences that made driving more comfortable and safe.
By the 1950s, most Americans owned a car. This changed American society in a number of ways. The ability to travel further distances opened up new opportunities for families and businessmen. Women gained more freedom and were able to drive themselves to work, which was previously not possible. This gave them the opportunity to start jobs that were previously only open to men. It also gave people the opportunity to take leisure trips to places that were not accessible on foot or by train or ship.
The increase in travel resulted in the growth of tourism and leisure activities. Resorts and amusement parks became popular. This helped to boost the economy. It also spawned new industries that provided services related to the automobile, such as car rental and repair, gas stations and convenience stores, hotels, restaurants and fast food.
In the 1960s, the automobile industry faced changes with federal regulations for safety and emissions standards. It was also at this time that questions started to surface about the fuel efficiency of automobiles and the draining of the world’s oil resources. This led to the emergence of more environmentally friendly and economical vehicles such as the small, functionally designed Japanese car called the Volkswagen Beetle.
Today the automobile has become a necessary and desirable means of transportation for millions of people around the world. There are an estimated 1.4 billion cars in operation worldwide, covering more than three trillion miles every year. But most of these vehicles are not as efficient as they could be. In addition, a great deal of the harm done by automobiles is caused by uncontrolled emissions of harmful gases. These are difficult and expensive to control.