Automobiles and Motorcycles
Automobiles are an integral part of our daily lives, and their history is rooted in the early days of the transportation industry. The first automobile was patented by Carl Benz in 1886 and became a major part of the automotive industry. Benz also developed the internal combustion engine, allowing for the mass production of cars and trucks. In 1908, Ford Motor Company produced the first mass-produced car, the Model T. This car quickly replaced animal-drawn carriages in the US. By the end of the century, demand for automobiles had increased in Europe and other parts of the world. Today, the automobile is considered a vital aspect of any developed economy.
The design of automobiles depends on the purposes for which they are used. Automobiles for off-road use, for example, need to be robust and simple systems that can handle extreme operating conditions and severe overloads. In contrast, automobiles for limited-access roads need to have increased engine performance and better handling. The weight distribution, location, and size of an automobile’s engine all influence its stability.
Motorcycles fall under the automobile category, but they do not meet the definition of a car. Motorcycles, for instance, have three wheels and cannot carry many passengers. A motorcycle with a sidecar does qualify as an automobile.