The Importance of Automobiles
Automobiles are wheeled motor vehicles that carry a passenger. Most definitions of automobiles say that they run primarily on roads, have seating for one to eight people, have four wheels and mainly transport passengers rather than cargo. The automotive industry is responsible for the design, development and manufacture of passenger cars. It is also responsible for the production of commercial vehicles such as buses, trucks and vans.
The automobile is an important part of our day to day life and has a lot of positive effects on society. Cars give us the ability to work independently, travel across town and see family members. It also helps with our time management, it allows us to make more appointments and get our chores done in a shorter amount of time.
In 1806 Francois Isaac de Rivaz invented a car powered by an internal combustion engine. This made autos more practical in the countryside but was expensive and polluting. In 1870 Siegfried Marcus, an inventor from Vienna built a vehicle with a gasoline (petrol) two-stroke internal combustion engine. This was the first modern automobile.
As the automobile became more affordable in the early 20th century, it had a positive impact on society. Women were able to start working outside of the home which caused women’s rights to grow during this period. Automobiles also helped with paved roads, and the development of suburbs. The negative effects of automobiles are that they are a large contributor to air pollution, climate change and the depletion of natural resources such as fossil fuels. The automobile is also a source of injury and death from accidents.