Car

A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most cars are built to travel on roads and seat between one and eight people. They have four wheels and are used mainly for moving people instead of carrying cargo.

The idea of a car began with early inventors. The French inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot created the first steam-powered road vehicle in 1769. The Swiss inventor François Isaac de Rivaz made the first automobile powered by an engine in 1808. The modern car that people could use every day was invented in 1886 by the German inventor Carl Benz with his Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Cars became common in the 20th century. Two important early cars were the 1901 Oldsmobile Curved Dash and the 1908 Ford Model T. In the United States, cars quickly replaced horse-drawn carriages. In Europe and other parts of the world, cars became popular mainly after World War II. Today, car use is still growing fast, especially in large countries like China and India.

Cars come with many features to help with driving, parking, and keeping passengers comfortable. Over time, cars have gotten more complex with new features like rear-reversing cameras, air conditioning, navigation systems, and in-car entertainment. Most cars still run on fossil fuels using an internal combustion engine, but electric cars have become more common recently. This shift helps protect the environment.

Using cars has both good and bad effects. For individuals, owning a car costs money for buying it, maintenance, fuel, insurance, and more. For society, cars need roads and can create air pollution and noise pollution. However, cars also give people freedom to travel when they want, help create jobs in the automotive industry, and make it easier for people to visit new places and enjoy leisure time.

Etymology

The word "car" comes from old languages. It started from the Latin words carrus or carrum, meaning "wheeled vehicle." Over time, cars changed from carts pulled by horses to today’s motor vehicles.

In British English, people often say "motor car." The word "automobile," meaning a vehicle that moves by itself, came from French and is more common in North America today.

History

Main article: History of the automobile

The idea of a vehicle that could move on its own has been around for a long time. In the 1600s, people built small models that moved with clocks or steam power. By the 1700s, inventors like Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot made bigger steam-powered vehicles.

In the 1800s, new ways to power vehicles were invented. Nicéphore Niépce and François Isaac de Rivaz created early engines that burned special fuels. Later, Carl Benz made the first car that many people could use every day. His car, called the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, had an engine that burned fuel to move.

As time went on, more people made cars. Companies like Daimler and Peugeot started building cars with engines. In the United States, Henry Ford changed how cars were made. He used a moving assembly line, which made it faster and cheaper to build cars. This helped many people afford their own cars.

Today, cars are made all around the world. Countries like Japan and Germany became big makers of cars, using new ideas and methods to make better vehicles.

Components and design

Propulsion and fuels

See also: Alternative fuel vehicle

Most cars today run on petrol burned in an internal combustion engine (ICE). Some cities restrict older, polluting petrol cars. Other fuels like diesel, autogas, and CNG can also be used. Work is ongoing to develop alternative power systems like hybrid vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles, and hydrogen vehicles.

User interface

Cars have controls for driving, comfort, and safety. These include a steering wheel, pedals for brakes and speed, and levers for changing gears. Modern cars also have buttons and dials for lights and ventilation. Some cars now use touchscreens instead of physical knobs and switches.

Electronics and interior

Cars usually have interior lighting, an entertainment system that started with car radios, and windows that can be raised or lowered. More expensive cars may have extra features like collision avoidance systems. Cars also have safety features to prevent electrical problems.

Lighting

Main article: Automotive lighting

Cars have many types of lights, such as headlights for seeing ahead and making the car visible at night, brake lights to show when braking, and turn signal lights to show direction. Some cars also have lights for reversing and side markers to improve visibility. Interior lights help the driver and passengers see better inside the car.

Weight and size

Cars have become heavier over time due to safety features like airbags, weighing between 1 and 3 tonnes. Heavier cars can be safer for the driver but can be more dangerous for others on the road. The weight of a car affects its fuel use and performance. Smaller cars, like the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, weigh around 700 kilograms. Some places tax heavier cars more to encourage safer designs and better fuel efficiency.

Seating and body style

See also: Car body style, Car classification, Truck classification, and Vehicle size class

Most cars are made to carry several people, often with four or five seats. Cars with five seats usually have two passengers in the front and three in the back. Larger cars can carry more people, while sports cars often have only two seats. There are many types of car bodies to suit different needs, including sedan/saloon, hatchback, station wagon/estate, coupe, and minivan.

Safety

Traffic collisions can hurt people and sometimes cause injuries. In the past, there have been accidents that resulted in serious problems. Today, new cars go through safety tests to make sure they are safe. Some of these tests are done by groups like the Euro, US NCAP, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Many places are working to improve car safety rules, such as adding special devices to help prevent accidents.

Costs and benefits

Cars have both good and bad sides for people and for society. For someone who owns a car, there are costs like buying the car, paying for fuel, fixing it when it breaks, buying insurance, and finding a place to park. But cars also have benefits. They make it easy to get around, let you travel when you want, and help you carry things or people where you need to go.

Cars also affect society. Making and keeping roads needs money and resources. Cars can pollute the air and cause traffic jams. But the car industry helps create jobs, brings in taxes, and lets people travel for work, fun, and other chances to improve their lives. This helps everyone feel better overall.

Environmental effects

See also: Exhaust gas, Waste tyres, Environmental effects of transport, Externalities of automobiles, Noise pollution, Environmental aspects of the electric car, and Vehicle recycling

Cars affect the environment in many ways. They create air pollution and add to greenhouse gas emissions, which help cause climate change. Electric cars produce fewer emissions than cars that use diesel or petrol.

Cars also cause other kinds of pollution. They can release heavy metals and microplastics into the environment. Roads can harm animals and plants by destroying habitats. Governments are working to reduce car pollution by setting emission standards and planning to stop selling fossil fuel cars in the future. Some cities are creating low-emission zones and making it easier for people to use other ways to get around, like cycling.

Social issues

The making of many cars in places like the United States, Australia, Argentina, and France helped people travel more easily and helped economies grow. But more cars can cause traffic jams in big cities such as Moscow, Istanbul, Bogotá, Mexico City, and São Paulo.

Cars can affect health and communities. Air pollution from cars can increase the risk of serious illnesses like lung cancer and heart disease. It can also harm babies. Children are especially sensitive to air pollution, which can cause health problems like asthma. Car-centric cities can spread out, leading to less physical activity and health challenges like obesity.

Emerging car technologies

Cars are changing with new technologies. Battery electric vehicles, like those using lithium iron phosphate batteries, are becoming safer and more affordable. Sensors such as lidar help cars "see" better, and wireless charging is being developed to power cars without plugs. Software can help cars avoid hitting pedestrians and make travel easier.

New materials like aluminium, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and biocomposites might replace steel in car bodies. Telematics and connected car systems allow people to share cars through car share and carpool schemes. Fully self-driving cars, or autonomous vehicles, exist in some places as robotaxis, but laws need updating before they can be used widely.

Industry

Main article: Automotive industry

The automotive industry designs, builds, and sells motor vehicles, mostly cars. In 2020, about 56 million new cars were made worldwide. China made the most cars, followed by Japan, Germany, South Korea, and India. China also has the largest car market.

There are about 1.644 billion cars in use today, and they use a lot of fuel each year. As more people in places like China and India buy cars, there are concerns about the environment and health. Some people are working on new ways to make transportation better for everyone. In Europe, new rules were introduced so that by 2035, all new cars sold will be zero-emissions vehicles, meaning they won’t pollute the air.

Alternatives

Main article: Alternatives to car use

There are many ways to get around besides using a car. Public transport, such as busses, trolleybusses, trains, subways, tramways, and light rail, is a good choice for many people. Cycling and walking are also popular. In cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, it is easy to rent bikes to ride around. Some cities are trying new ideas, like personal rapid transit, which might become an alternative to driving someday. Making Low Traffic Neighbourhood areas in cities like London can bring many benefits.

Car motorsport

Main article: Motorsport

Motorsport is an exciting sport with fast racing. Popular racing series include Formula One, IndyCar Series, NASCAR, World Rally Championship, and MotoGP. These races bring together skilled drivers from all over the world to compete on tracks or roads.