Automobiles are self-propelled vehicles used for transportation on land. They usually have four wheels and are constructed for the transport of two to six passengers, as well as a small amount of cargo. This is a large class of vehicles that differs from trucks, which are designed primarily for the transport of goods, and buses, which are public conveyances intended to carry large numbers of passengers, typically with little or no cargo.
The development of automobiles in the United States has radically changed the nation and its people. It has paved the way for new jobs and industries, such as automobile manufacturing. It has also helped people move from one place to another, opening up new opportunities for work and travel. It has also opened up new places to live, such as suburban areas, that would not have developed without the car.
The scientific and technical building blocks of the automobile date back several hundred years. In the 1600s, Leonardo da Vinci began designing and working on a machine that was powered by steam. Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot produced the first steam-powered automobile in 1769, but these were very heavy and moved slowly. Later, manufacturers built electric cars that were relatively inexpensive and easy to operate but could not accelerate very quickly. They also required that the battery be recharged frequently.
In the early twentieth century, Henry Ford introduced a system of production that allowed a single model of automobile to be made in large numbers at a reasonable price. This revolutionized the automobile industry, allowing middle-class Americans to afford to own a car for the first time. Before the automobile, moving even a short distance away from home could mean hours of bumpy buggy travel on poor roads.
Once automobiles became affordable, they became an integral part of American life. They opened up the country to people who previously could not travel far from their homes, and they allowed urban dwellers to escape to the countryside for weekends. People who lived in rural areas were able to travel to city centers and meet their friends. This increased social interaction grew the cities, and the country as a whole.
The automobile is a symbol of the affluent lifestyle that many American families enjoy. It is also a source of pride, and many people show off their expensive automobiles in parades and at auto shows. In recent decades, however, the popularity of automobiles has waned, and many Americans do not drive as often as they did in the past. Many of those who do own a car have begun to opt for hybrid automobiles that combine the speed and power of gasoline engines with the efficiency of an electric motor. This helps to reduce emissions and conserve energy. These cars are also gaining in popularity in Europe, where the need for environmentally friendly vehicles is greater than in the United States. This trend may continue as technology advances. The automobile no longer acts as a force for change in America, but other technologies—the computer and the laser, for example—are charting a new course.