Automobiles, a land vehicle equipped with propulsion devices, are primarily used for carrying passengers or goods.
Powered by internal combustion engines, electric motors, or hybrid systems, automobiles utilize various control systems and components for driving, accelerating, decelerating, turning, and other operations.
The evolution of automobiles, from the primitive "carriages" to the modern vehicles we know today, has been a long process. Initially, primitive "vehicles" were rudimentary constructions, such as cylindrical wooden objects rolled beneath heavy loads. Over time, larger wooden wheels were utilized, leading to the gradual development of wheeled vehicles with axles, marking the earliest forms of wheels.
In 1774, James Watt, a British inventor, successfully created the world's first steam engine, marking the advent of the first industrial revolution and initiating the ongoing history of automobile development. In 1759, Frenchman N.J. Cugnot built the first steam-powered tricycle, known as the "Fardier à Vapeur," featuring a large boiler resembling a pear.
Measuring 7.2 meters in length and 2.2 meters in height, it required a 15-second stop every 12 to 15 seconds of travel to heat, achieving speeds of 3.5 to 3.9 kilometers per hour. Subsequently, in 1825, Walter Hancock invented and manufactured a steam-powered public bus with 18 seats, capable of reaching speeds of 19 kilometers per hour, marking the earliest form of public transportation.
The birth of the internal combustion engine occurred in 1860 when Étienne Lenoir developed it. The internal combustion engine operates by intake of air and fuel, compression, ignition of the mixture, and expulsion of exhaust gases. In 1876, Nikolaus Otto significantly improved engine efficiency by compressing and igniting gasoline-air mixtures within engine cylinders.
In 1879, German engineer Karl Benz successfully tested a two-stroke experimental engine, establishing the Benz Patent Motorwagen, the first automobile. This vehicle, equipped with a 0.9 horsepower single-cylinder gasoline engine, achieved a top speed of 15 kilometers per hour, and on January 29, 1886, Benz received the patent for it, marking the birth of the automobile.
Entering the twentieth century, the automotive industry expanded beyond Europe. In October 1908, Henry Ford began selling the Model T in the United States, selling 15 million units in just 19 years. During the 1973 oil crisis, the U.S. automotive industry faced significant challenges, leading Japan to focus on developing and producing small, fuel-efficient cars.
The financial difficulties spurred practical advancements in automobiles, leading to their use for agricultural and expeditionary purposes, providing diverse options for consumers.
The development of new energy vehicles has gained momentum, with increasing market share due to their minimal emissions. New energy vehicles encompass various alternative energy sources, such as hybrid cars, fuel cell vehicles, solar-powered cars, and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Globally, there are over a million natural gas vehicles and over four million liquefied petroleum gas vehicles.
Over the past century, continuous improvement and innovation in automobiles have harnessed human ingenuity and craftsmanship. Supported by various industries including petroleum, steel, aluminum, chemicals, plastics, machinery, power, roads, electronics, and finance, automobiles have become widely used vehicles across multiple sectors of socio-economic life.
