Automobiles are motor vehicles that are designed to carry passengers and operate on roads. They are powered by engines that can use gasoline, diesel fuel or electricity. There are many different kinds of automobiles, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are sporty and fast, while others are practical and economical. The most common type of automobile is the passenger car. In recent years, the car has become one of the main forms of transportation in most countries. There are also buses, trucks and vans that can carry passengers.
The word “automobile” is derived from the Greek prefix “auto” (self) and the Latin word “mobilis” (moving). The first modern cars were made in the late 19th century. The first automobiles were powered by steam, but they were heavy and moved slowly. The next step was the internal combustion engine, which used gasoline to power a piston that moved a crankshaft and thus turned the wheels. This made the automobile much faster and easier to drive.
Later, other manufacturers used electric motors to power automobiles. Electric cars were more efficient than steam cars, but they could not travel very far on a charge and needed to be recharged frequently. In the early 20th century, Henry Ford invented the Model T, which was affordable for ordinary people. His mass production techniques allowed him to make and sell many of them in a short period of time. Ford’s automobile revolutionized the way that people live, work and play.
Today there are more than 1.4 billion automobiles in operation worldwide. Most are passenger cars, which can seat one to eight or nine people. The body of an automobile is the outer shell that covers the mechanical parts. It is usually made of steel, although some may be made of fiberglass or strong plastics. The body of a car includes the front and back seats, the trunk, the hood and the fenders that cover the wheels.
Passenger cars are the most popular kind of automobile, and they come in many different styles. A sedan (saloon in British English) is a four-door car with a sloped rear window and a separate trunk. A coupe is a two-door car that looks like a sedan but has a smaller back seat. A hatchback, station wagon, minivan or van is a taller car that can seat up to nine people. An SUV (sport utility vehicle) is a rugged automobile that combines the towing capacity of a truck with the passenger-carrying space of a van or wagon.
There are many problems with automobiles, including the fact that they pollute the air and cause traffic congestion when too many try to go the same way at the same time. Using public transportation is better for the environment, but it is not as convenient as having an automobile of your own. There are also many places in the world where there is no room for automobiles, and people walk or ride bicycles instead.