Automobiles are wheeled vehicles used for transporting passengers. They run primarily on roads and are usually powered by a gasoline internal combustion engine. There are also electric cars and hybrid automobiles, which use both gasoline and an electric motor. Automobiles are one of the most important modes of transportation for people. They allow people to travel long distances and make it possible for people to live far from work and family. They give people a lot of personal freedom and create many jobs in the car industry. However, automobiles can also cause pollution by emitting exhaust fumes and consuming undeveloped land for parking lots and highways.
In 1885 Karl Benz, a German engineer, invented the modern automobile. He used a four-stroke type of internal combustion engine to power his Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Later, Edouard Delamare-Deboutteville and Leon Malandin of France tried to make a gas-powered vehicle. When they tested it, a tank hose broke loose and the vehicle literally “shook itself to pieces,” according to Malandin.
After Benz and other inventors, Henry Ford made the first automobile that people could afford to buy. His Model T was made on an assembly line, which allowed him to make a lot of them quickly. Ford’s affordable automobile revolutionized society because it gave many people the opportunity to drive and own a car.
Today, there are more than five billion automobiles in operation worldwide. They provide a great mode of transportation for people but have some downsides, like accidents and pollution. Fortunately, there are other ways to get around, such as buses, trains and trams. People can also walk or ride bicycles if they want to stay away from automobile traffic.