Automobiles are vehicles that use an internal combustion engine to run a set of wheels. They have a gearbox that transfers the power of the engine to the wheels so they can move forward or backward. Most of them use petrol (called gasoline in America), but some have electric motors. There are sixty million cars produced each year and the demand is rising rapidly worldwide.
Cars allow people to go long distances quickly and cheaply. This enables them to live in one place and work or study in another and it also opens up more opportunities for social contact. The automobile was invented in the 19 th century and first popularized by Henry Ford in the United States. He streamlined the production process by using an assembly line where each worker has one job and car parts pass along a conveyor belt. This technique reduced the price of the car significantly and it became a symbol of American industry.
The development of the automobile spawned many new industries. New jobs were created to make the fuel and lubricants that powered them, and new industries produced rubber and plastic to be used in the manufacture of cars. Road construction was a big spin-off as well and the demand for vulcanized rubber increased dramatically. Even fast food franchises popped up because people wanted to eat while they were driving their automobiles.
Automobiles give people more personal freedom, especially in the United States where women were just beginning to gain suffrage rights and could not ride public transportation like buses or trains. They could travel without men and they often drove around with “votes for women” banners to show their support for the cause. In addition to giving women more personal independence, the automobile helped women to become more involved in the political process as they could drive to meetings or campaign for causes from their homes.
Despite the many benefits of automobiles, they can have negative consequences as well. They pollute the air when too many of them are driven in a small area and they can increase traffic congestion, which slows everyone down. They can also be a source of fire or accidents, and they can even kill people.
With all the advantages and drawbacks of automobiles, many people are starting to abandon them in favor of walking, taking public transportation or sharing an automobile with other people. They are also choosing to buy hybrid automobiles, which use both a petrol and an electric motor to propel the vehicle. It is hoped that these cars will help reduce the amount of pollution caused by traditional automobiles and help save on fuel costs. As more people choose to go green, the demand for conventional automobiles is likely to continue to decline. This may lead to the creation of a whole new kind of car that uses alternative fuels and other energy sources. There are already a number of companies that are designing and building these new types of automobiles.