The Advantages and Disadvantages of Automobiles
An automobile is a wheeled motor vehicle that carries passengers. It includes cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles. The vehicle may be powered by electricity or by a fuel, such as petroleum, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoline or diesel oil. In some countries, it is illegal to operate an automobile without the proper license and insurance.
The automobile was invented around 1885 by Karl Benz, a German engineer. His car was the first to use an internal combustion engine. It was also the first to be mass-produced.
CHANGING THE WORLD: One of the greatest advantages of the automobile is its ability to open up a whole new range of work opportunities and lifestyle choices for people. It also allows them to travel longer distances, visit friends and family more easily, and spend time doing the things they enjoy most.
CONS: Cars are not always as clean as we would like them to be, and the way they burn fossil fuels contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. But there are ways to limit this by choosing a car that runs on clean energy or is hybrid, and by driving less.
ADVANCED DESIGN: The advancement of the automobile is largely the result of technological developments in mechanical engineering, electronics, computer technology and materials science. Various research and development engineers have worked to improve the chassis, engine, suspension, control systems, safety equipment, power transmission and emissions control.
In the United States, the industrial revolution of the early 1900s made it possible to manufacture the automobile at a reasonable price. This is largely due to the country’s vast area and sparse population, a sales market that favored high volume sales, and low cost raw materials and labor. Ransom E. Olds and Henry Ford introduced assembly line manufacturing techniques that further reduced the price of the automobile.