Global InformationCar information
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| Car | |
|---|---|
 The Toyota Corolla has been in production since 1966 and is recognized as the world's best-selling automobile. Japan currently holds the position of the third-largest automobile manufacturer globally. | |
| Classification | Vehicle |
| Industry | Various |
| Application | Transportation |
| Fuel source |
|
| Powered | Yes |
| Self-propelled | Yes |
| Wheels | 3–6, most often 4 |
| Axles | 2, less commonly 3 |
| Inventor | Carl Benz |
| Invented | 1886 |
A car, or an automobile, is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people, not cargo.[1][2]
French inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the first steam-powered road vehicle in 1769, while French-born Swiss inventor François Isaac de Rivaz designed and constructed the first internal combustion-powered automobile in 1808. The modern car—a practical, marketable automobile for everyday use—was invented in 1886, when German inventor Carl Benz patented his Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Commercial cars became widely available during the 20th century. One of the first cars affordable by the masses was the 1908 Model T, an American car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. Cars were rapidly adopted in the US, where they replaced horse-drawn carriages.[3] In Europe and other parts of the world, demand for automobiles did not increase until after World War II.[4] The car is considered an essential part of the developed economy.
Cars have controls for driving, parking, passenger comfort, and a variety of lamps. Over the decades, additional features and controls have been added to vehicles, making them progressively more complex. These include rear-reversing cameras, air conditioning, navigation systems, and in-car entertainment. Most cars in use in the early 2020s are propelled by an internal combustion engine, fueled by the combustion of fossil fuels. Electric cars, which were invented early in the history of the car, became commercially available in the 2000s and are predicted to cost less to buy than petrol-driven cars before 2025.[5][6] The transition from fossil fuel-powered cars to electric cars features prominently in most climate change mitigation scenarios,[7] such as Project Drawdown's 100 actionable solutions for climate change.[8]
There are costs and benefits to car use. The costs to the individual include acquiring the vehicle, interest payments (if the car is financed), repairs and maintenance, fuel, depreciation, driving time, parking fees, taxes, and insurance.[9] The costs to society include maintaining roads, land use, road congestion, air pollution, noise pollution, public health, and disposing of the vehicle at the end of its life. Traffic collisions are the largest cause of injury-related deaths worldwide.[10] Personal benefits include on-demand transportation, mobility, independence, and convenience.[11] Societal benefits include economic benefits, such as job and wealth creation from the automotive industry, transportation provision, societal well-being from leisure and travel opportunities, and revenue generation from taxes. People's ability to move flexibly from place to place has far-reaching implications for the nature of societies.[12] There are around one billion cars in use worldwide. Car usage is increasing rapidly, especially in China, India, and other newly industrialized countries.[13]
- ^ Fowler, H.W.; Fowler, F.G., eds. (1976). Pocket Oxford Dictionary. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198611134.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
OEDmotrcarwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The Motor Vehicle, 1917". Scientific American. January 2017. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ "Automobile History". www.history.com. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
- ^ "EV Price Parity Coming Soon, Claims VW Executive". CleanTechnica. 9 August 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Electric V Petrol". British Gas. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ "Factcheck: How electric vehicles help to tackle climate change". Carbon Brief. 13 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ "Electric Cars @ProjectDrawdown #ClimateSolutions". Project Drawdown. 6 February 2020. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Car Operating Costs". RACV. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
- ^ Peden, Margie; Scurfield, Richard; Sleet, David; Mohan, Dinesh; Hyder, Adnan A.; Jarawan, Eva; Mathers, Colin, eds. (2004). World report on road traffic injury prevention. World Health Organization. ISBN 92-4-156260-9. Archived from the original on 4 May 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
setrightwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Jakle, John A.; Sculle, Keith A. (2004). Lots of Parking: Land Use in a Car Culture. University of Virginia Press. ISBN 0-8139-2266-6.
- ^ "Automobile Industry Introduction". Plunkett Research. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.