Automobiles are passenger vehicles that use internal combustion engines fueled by gasoline, or more rarely, diesel fuel, oil, or other liquid petroleum products. Originally perfected in Germany and France toward the end of the 19th century, automobiles soon came to dominate the world market with innovations such as electric ignition, automatic transmission, and independent suspension. In the 1920s, mass production techniques revolutionized automobile design and manufacturing. Today, the automotive industry is dominated by three American companies and Japan.
Automobiles come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate people with a variety of needs, tastes, and budgets. Sedans, hatchbacks and convertibles are common passenger cars. People can also purchase SUVs (sport utility vehicles), which are rugged automobiles that combine passenger and cargo space, or minivans, which are ideal for families. Vans can even be used for towing heavy trailers, such as campers or boats.
Cars can have brakes that work by friction to stop the vehicle quickly in an emergency, and they can have regenerative braking systems that convert the energy from the vehicle’s movement back into electricity when it is parked. They can also be powered by hydrogen fuel cells or other renewable energy sources.
The automobile has brought many benefits to people, including freedom of movement and personal independence. It has caused some problems, such as air pollution and traffic congestion, which can make travel slow or impossible. Fortunately, there are alternatives to driving, such as busses and trains, that can get people where they want to go faster and more cheaply than a single automobile.