Automobiles are mobile vehicles that use engines to propel themselves. Their engines may be powered by gasoline, diesel fuel or another liquid or gas. The most important thing about automobiles is that they are able to take people from one place to another quickly and easily.
They allow people to travel for work and play, to visit friends and family, to shop, and more. They help families spend more time together and they make it possible for people to live in different parts of the country or world. Automobiles also create jobs for those who work on them and those who provide the fuel that they run on.
The scientific and technical building blocks of the automobile go back several hundred years, to the late 1600s, when Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens invented a type of internal engine sparked by gunpowder. The first modern cars were essentially horseless carriages with a wheeled chassis and an underpowered engine. Steam-powered models could reach high speeds, but were expensive to operate and lacked range. Battery-powered electric vehicles were cheaper to buy and operate, but had limited range and required frequent recharging.
Gasoline-powered automobiles came into their own in the early 1900s, when American car manufacturer Henry Ford introduced the assembly line, which radically improved production and made his Model T affordable for middle class Americans. This led to a great expansion of automobile production in America, which fueled the growth of other industries that supplied the industry with materials and services, including steel, petroleum and gas, rubber and plastics.
By the 1920s, the automobile had become a vital part of a consumer goods-oriented society in which it ranked as the biggest contributor to household income. It was the leading industrial employer and, by the 1980s, it provided one in six American jobs.
Automobiles were developed as a response to the long-standing predisposition in many countries, especially the United States, toward personal freedom of movement and action and private ownership of property. They facilitated the development of suburbs where families could build homes far from city centers and commute to work on their own.
Today, more than 1.4 billion passenger cars are in operation worldwide. Despite their widespread use, they are not without their problems. They cause air pollution and are a major source of greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. They can be dangerous if not driven carefully and they can lead to accidents if they are not maintained well. There is also a concern that they are consuming natural resources and polluting the environment.
Despite these concerns, the automobile remains the dominant mode of transport in most countries. It is hard to imagine life without the conveniences and liberties that it provides. Unless there is some dramatic improvement in public transportation systems, it will probably remain so for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, new technologies and alternative fuels are constantly being explored in the search for more environmentally friendly cars. In addition, manufacturers are introducing cars with ever more advanced safety features to improve road conditions and to keep pace with rapidly changing consumer demand.