Automobiles are vehicles that are powered by an internal combustion engine to move people and things. Automobiles have become an essential mode of transportation for many individuals, especially those who live in urban areas where public transit is not available. The automobile allows people to travel quickly, easily and cheaply. It also provides a sense of independence and freedom for owners.
The automobile has revolutionized society in many ways. In the United States, it increased women’s roles in society by giving them the ability to work outside the home and travel to other places without relying on others to drive them. It also helped promote the right to vote for women. Many women used their cars to travel around with “votes for women” banners during the 1910s and 1920s. The car also allowed women to attend school and pursue careers as nurses or teachers.
Although automobiles have revolutionized society, they are not without their problems. Millions of people die in traffic accidents each year and pollution from automobiles causes environmental damage. The number of cars on the road also puts a strain on the world’s oil supply. In addition, they often cause air congestion and create traffic jams which can delay travel for hours.
In the nineteenth century, European inventors such as Gottlieb Daimler, Karl Benz and Nicolaus Otto perfected the basic design of motor vehicles. In 1901, the German-based Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft produced the first modern motorcar, a three-horsepower Mercedes that weighed only fourteen pounds per horsepower and reached fifty-three miles an hour. The American Henry Ford incorporated improvements and innovations such as the moving assembly line into his plant in 1912 to produce his Model T runabout for $575, which was less than the average annual wage in America at the time.
After the invention of the automobile, national automotive industries developed in Germany (Vincke, which copied Benz), France (Panhard and Germain), England, Italy and Switzerland. These centers of car production had advantages over their rivals, including the use of assembly methods which facilitated the financing of automobiles by selling them for cash from factory to dealer.
In addition, the automobile introduced new leisure activities such as vacations and recreational driving. It also contributed to the growth of businesses such as motels, hotels, restaurants and gas stations. The automobile helped create suburban communities and a culture of isolation that emphasized personal autonomy.
Some authors have written critically about the automobile. Renowned social critic Kenneth R. Schneider, for example, in his book Autokind vs. Mankind (1971), likened the automobile to a disease and urged a struggle against its proliferation. Other authors, such as Martin Pawley in The Private Future (1973), have seen the positive aspects of the automobile and argued that its dominance should continue. These views, however, have not been widely accepted. The rise of the SUV, electric and hybrid automobiles is likely to change the way we think about cars. The new technology will provide a more environmentally friendly and safer alternative to traditional internal combustion engines.