Automobiles are powered by internal combustion engines, which use a volatile fuel to create energy for motion. The automobile enables people to travel longer distances quickly and easily than is possible with a horse-drawn carriage or on foot. It has revolutionized work patterns and family life. It has been one of the key forces in the development of a new consumer goods-oriented society. It is the major customer of the petroleum industry and the main consumer of industrial products such as steel and iron, and is responsible for a significant portion of employment in the United States.
The technical building blocks of the modern automobile date back several hundred years. In the late 1600s, Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens invented a type of internal-combustion engine fueled by gunpowder. In the 1800s, inventors such as Edouard Delamare-Deboutteville and Leon Malandin built and patented two prototypes of a liquid-fueled automobile using four-stroke, internal combustion engines. The first truly modern automobiles were developed in Germany and France toward the end of the nineteenth century by men such as Gottlieb Daimler, Karl Benz, and Nicolaus Otto.
Whether an automobile is driven by a gasoline, diesel or electrical motor, its basic construction is the same. The engine is a complex, multi-component system that produces power by burning a mixture of air and fuel. It drives the crankshaft, which in turn powers the transmission and all of the other automobile systems. A variety of factors determine the design and arrangement of each car. The type of drive, for example, has a significant effect on the size of the engine and other systems. The choice of front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive affects handling, speed and safety.
In addition, the choice of tires and suspension systems also affects the driving characteristics of an automobile. Other important considerations include fuel economy, weight, and cost. Choosing the right vehicle for each situation and purpose is critical to personal safety and convenience. A vehicle allows people to travel longer distances and avoid the constraints of public transportation schedules, which may be limited by the need to meet the needs of commuters and travelers in crowded urban areas. It enables people to live and work in locations far from each other, opening up more job possibilities and broader social circles.
An automobile is an expensive investment, requiring the purchase or lease of a vehicle, maintenance costs, and insurance. Moreover, its operation requires considerable skill and attentiveness on the part of the driver, especially in busy traffic conditions. However, there are many benefits of owning a vehicle, including the freedom to make appointments and plans with greater flexibility, as well as the ability to travel safely in bad weather or during unreliable public transportation. Having a car also reduces the need to rely on others for transportation and opens up more opportunities for recreational activities and work-related travel. It may also provide a sense of security when traveling in certain situations or locations where crime or violence against people on the street is a concern.