Automobiles are wheeled motor vehicles designed to transport people. They run primarily on roads and seat one to eight people. They use internal combustion engines and have four wheels. Most automobiles are powered by gasoline, a liquid petroleum fuel. The scientific and technical building blocks of the automobile began to form several hundred years ago.
The first automobiles were steam or electric-powered and could only travel short distances, because they had a limited range and recharging stations were difficult to find. The gasoline-powered automobile won the race against the others, because it was economical to operate and more convenient for transporting passengers.
With a car you can control your own transportation and thus your schedule, without having to rely on buses or taxis. The ability to move around quickly opens up a wide variety of new possibilities, including leisure activities and services like restaurants, hotels, amusement parks, etc. The freedom to leave at a moment’s notice can also lead to more flexible job opportunities and a wider range of social contacts.
Although there are many disadvantages to owning a vehicle, such as the risk of accidents caused by reckless driving or the expense of operating and maintaining it, most people who have cars consider them a necessity. Modern life is inconceivable, or at least highly inconvenient, without access to an automobile.
In the early 1900s, American automakers produced automobiles with a greater degree of sophistication and lower cost than European manufacturers. Henry Ford, for example, used assembly lines to speed production and reduce the price of his Model T until it was affordable to middle-class Americans. The American economy, with its vast land area and a scattered population with widely dispersed jobs, was an ideal market for automobiles. Cheap raw materials and a chronic shortage of skilled labor encouraged mechanization.
While automobiles can be a serious threat to the environment because of the waste and pollution they create, they have contributed to a number of important changes in both society and technology. They led to the development of better roads and new industries that provided parts and fuel for them. Services such as gas stations and convenience stores also sprang up. The automobile brought personal freedom and increased travel and vacation opportunities, which in turn gave rise to tourism and leisure industries.
The automobile has become a cultural icon and has helped shape America’s character and image. It has also created many problems, such as congestion and air pollution, but it remains one of the most indispensable tools in modern life. The automobile’s importance is reflected by the fact that it now accounts for more than one-fourth of world GDP. Moreover, over three trillion miles (five trillion kilometers) are driven annually in the United States alone. This vast and varied network of highways and backroads is the primary means of transportation for most families. The automobile is an essential and unavoidable part of modern life, and it will continue to have a significant influence on future changes in human society.