The History of Automobiles
Automobiles are four-wheeled, motorized vehicles used principally for transportation of passengers. They usually have seating for one to six people and are built primarily for road travel. They are powered by internal combustion engines and have become the dominant form of personal transportation, with an estimated worldwide fleet of more than 590 million cars as of 2003.
The development of automobiles has radically changed the world and human lifestyles. It has opened up many new employment possibilities and allowed people to choose where they want to live in relation to their work. It has also led to the growth of numerous industries that depend on the automobile. The automobile has also contributed to the spread of diseases because of air pollution and traffic accidents and has even resulted in the deaths of many people.
In the late 1800s, European car makers competed with each other in developing more advanced and sophisticated motorized carriages. However, it was American industrialist Henry Ford who pushed the automotive industry into the mass production phase. His innovative use of the assembly line allowed him to make gas-powered automobiles affordable and accessible for most Americans. His 1908 Model T was a major turning point in automotive history. It was the first car to combine the advanced design of a 1901 Mercedes with a moderate price tag and easy operation.
After the automobile became widely available, it quickly became a fixture in American life. In addition to allowing people to shop in towns and cities, the car gave families more freedom to spend time together. Families could now go on vacations in pristine natural settings. Teenagers gained independence with driving freedom and dating couples found it easier to get away for romantic getaways.
By the 1930s most mechanical technology had been invented, although many of the inventions were later “re-invented” and credited to someone else. For example, front-wheel drive was reintroduced in 1934 with the introduction of the Citroen Traction Avant, although it had been used several years earlier on roadsters by Alvis and Cord, and in racing cars by Miller and Mercedes. Other innovations such as the syncromesh transmission, hydraulic brakes and high-compression engine had already appeared on some cars before 1920.
During the 1910s and 1920s, there was a push for women’s rights. The automobile allowed women to become independent and take on jobs that had previously been the domain of men. As a result, there was a proliferation of women with automobiles who drove around with “vote for women” banners.
Today’s modern car is a highly complex machine that contains hundreds of parts and thousands of moving mechanical components. In addition, there are electronic and computer controls that are constantly monitoring everything that the car is doing. The automobile has become a symbol of the promise and pitfalls of the modern world. There are concerns that the current production of automobiles is not sustainable and is putting a strain on our global environment. For example, if cars are thrown away improperly they can release toxic chemicals into the environment that cause harm to humans and animals. The heat and gases released by the engines can also warm up our planet’s atmosphere, thereby causing global warming.