Automobiles and Driving- History Highlights
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The design of the first steam-engine powered vehicles caoable of transporting human
Early Steam Powered Cars
The first functioning vehicle was built around 1672 by Ferdinand Verbiest, a member of a Catholic missionary group to China.. Even though this four-wheel toy served great entertainment to the reigning king of China, it lacked the most basic functionality that every auto mobile has, which is the ability of carrying the operator (driver).
In 1769, the very first self-propelled road vehicle was invented by French engineer and mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot. Nicolas attached two steam-powered engines on the rear of his new invention, which enabled it to travel at a whopping speed of 2.5 miles per hour. However, it was barely able to travel long distances as the vehicle had to stop every ten to fifteen minutes to regenerate steams.
The first functioning vehicle was built around 1672 by Ferdinand Verbiest, a member of a Catholic missionary group to China.. Even though this four-wheel toy served great entertainment to the reigning king of China, it lacked the most basic functionality that every auto mobile has, which is the ability of carrying the operator (driver).
In 1769, the very first self-propelled road vehicle was invented by French engineer and mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot. Nicolas attached two steam-powered engines on the rear of his new invention, which enabled it to travel at a whopping speed of 2.5 miles per hour. However, it was barely able to travel long distances as the vehicle had to stop every ten to fifteen minutes to regenerate steams.
Electrical Powered Vehicles
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An electric vehicle seen advertised on a 1910 newspaper
Two centuries after the invention of steam powered engines, there emerged a new type of vehicle designs that used electricity as the propellent. It is uncertain who actually invented the first electrically powered car engine. However, it is worth noticing that vehicles equipped with the new engines could now travel an average of 2 miles faster than their precursors.
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Gas Powered Vehicles
Daimler and Benz's invention of internal combustion engines provided the base template for developments modern vehicles. An internal combustion engine is any engine that uses the explosive combustion of fuel to push a piston within a cylinder - the piston's movement turns a crankshaft that then turns the car wheels via a chain or a drive shaft. The different types of fuel commonly used for car combustion engines are gasoline (or petrol), diesel, and kerosene. Even though four-wheel vehicles had existed long before then, it was the acheivement of Daimler and Ben that would enshrine in people's mind for generations to come. |