Automobiles are vehicles used to transport people and goods over long distances. They are usually powered by an internal combustion engine that uses a liquid fuel, most commonly gasoline. They are one of the most common and widespread of modern technologies. Their development was a major turning point in human history, making it possible for many more people to travel long distances quickly and comfortably. They have made it possible to work from home, run errands and visit family members who live far away.
In the United States there are now more than three trillion miles (five trillion kilometres) traveled each year by automobiles. Almost every American household has at least one car, and most have several. Cars are also the backbone of the nation’s transportation system, and they are a significant source of revenue for ancillary industries such as service stations, roadside restaurants and motels. They also play a key role in the construction of roads and highways, which are among the largest public works projects in the country.
The automobile is a complex technical system with multiple subsystems that have specific design functions. The modern automobile has evolved from breakthroughs in engineering and the development of new materials such as high-strength plastics and electronic computers. The automotive industry is now a global business, with large production and exporting companies located in many countries.
In its early decades, the automobile revolutionized the way people lived and worked. It brought urban amenities, including better medical care and schools, to rural America. It helped to bring people together from all parts of the country, and it sparked the growth of a number of related businesses such as gas stations and fast food chains. It also sparked the growth of outdoor recreational activities and spawned new industries such as trucking and tourism. It also helped to make suburbia a reality and to end rural isolation, while stimulating agricultural and industrial expansion in the cities.
Although steam-powered road vehicles were developed earlier, the automobile industry was born with the introduction of the gasoline engine in the 1860s and ’70s. Karl Benz built the first commercially successful car in 1886. His Benz Patent-Motorwagen had a four-stroke, internal combustion engine and was powered by gasoline.
Today, there are more than a hundred automobile manufacturers worldwide and more than 73 million cars on the road. The automobile’s popularity has grown in tandem with economic development, rising incomes and the availability of cheap credit. It has become the main mode of personal transportation in most of the world. The automobile is a major consumer of petroleum and an important user of other raw materials, such as steel and aluminum.
Anyone who owns a car will tell you that it makes life much more convenient and gives them more freedom than they would have otherwise had. It can save precious minutes that could be spent on other activities. It can also allow you to avoid the hassle and expense of using public transportation.