« Back to Motor Vehicles, Aeronautics, Astronautics page Show This question does not have a straightforward answer. The history of the automobile is very rich and dates back to the 15th century when Leonardo da Vinci was creating designs and models for transport vehicles.  There are many different types of automobiles – steam, electric, and gasoline – as well as countless styles. Exactly who invented the automobile is a matter of opinion. Earlier accounts often gave credit to Karl Benz, from Germany, for creating the first true automobile in 1885/1886. However, our knowledge of the invention of the true automobile continues to evolve. The story of the invention of the automobile has become enriched with various other figures who played a part in its history. Below is a selection of highlights in automobile history, compiled from information in Leonard Bruno’s book Science and Technology Firsts (Detroit, c1997) and ThoughtCo.’s History of the Automobile. Automobile Highlights
Published: 11/19/2019. Updated: 2/9/2020. Author: Science Reference Section, Library of Congress
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Many historic “firsts” paved the way for the automobile. The first car was made in 1769. Steam drove this earlier self-powered land vehicle. It was called the Cugnot Fardier and was a three-wheel truck designed for the French military. The first internal combustion car was an 1807 one-off fueled by hydrogen gas. 1881 saw the first electric vehicle. Finally, the carburetor paved the way for the first gasoline-powered internal combustion car. This was Karl Benz’s 1885 Motorwagen. The Benz Patent Motorwagen is a revered classic car to this day. The first car was made in 1769Nicola-Joseph Cugnot was one of the pioneers of the steam-powered car. He was an engineer in the French military. Previously, others had experimented with steam pistons. But Cugnot invented a ratchet so a piston could create rotational power. His steam-powered cart, designed for transporting military supplies, was the first self-propelled land vehicle. The first internal combustion engine car was made in 1807RELATED: What does SUV stand for? While Cugnot invented the first car was in 1769, it was not an internal-combustion car. Rivaz invented the first internal combustion car forty years later. Like Cugnot, François Isaac de Rivaz was born in France. But he later moved to Switzerland, where he was a politician. He also worked with steam engines, and began experimenting with a new engine type. A steam engine is an external combustion engine. First, an external fire heats a fluid. Then, when the liquid expands into a gas, this pressure creates power. Several inventors experimented with internal combustion engines. But internal combustion requires an explosion that creates enough expanding gas it can build pressure on its own. The only problem was finding a powerful fuel source. Inventors experimented with many fuel sources. For example, Nicéphore Niépce built an internal combustion engine powered by a mixture of moss, coal-dust, and resin. It was powerful enough to propel a boat but never drove a car. Isaac de Rivaz built an internal combustion engine powered by hydrogen gas in 1804. The powerplant was strong enough to propel the first internal combustion car in 1807. The first rechargeable electric car was made in 1881The Trouvé tricycle was the first rechargeable electric vehicle. This is a replica with a safer, modern battery.RELATED: Jay Leno Bought James Bond’s First Car As early as 1832, inventors experimented with electric horseless carriages. But no one had successfully built a rechargeable battery. Therefore, early electric vehicles were essentially disposable. Gustave Trouvé was a multi-talented French inventor. He first pioneered new, lightweight rechargeable battery technology. Then he greatly improved the efficiency of existing electric engines. He used these components to invent many devices. For example, he invented a self-propelled boat and electric helicopter. He also invented the metal detector and headlamp. Trouvé’s other contributions include an early endoscope and a portable slide projector. It was only a matter of time before Trouvé turned his attention to the automobile. In 1881 he mounted his battery and motor on a British tricycle. Then he rode it around the streets of Paris. Thus, the first rechargeable electric car was made in 1881. The first gasoline powered car was made in 1885In the 1800s, mass-producing hydrogen gas was unfeasible. Liquid gasoline is easier to refine. But liquid fuels do not work for internal combustion. Then, the invention of the carburetor made it possible to mix liquid gas and air. As a result, the internal combustion engine became viable for widespread use. Several inventors attempted to merge carburetor technology with internal combustion technology. But it was Karl Benz who first perfected a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine in 1878. He won a patent in 1879. Benz mounted his engine on the back of a tall, three-wheeled buggy. The motor spun a pair of chains which in turn drove the back wheel. Therefore, he called his invention the Benz Motorwagen. It was the first gasoline, internal combustion car. Consequently, he was granted a patent in early 1886. The “Patent Benz Motorwagen” went on sale in 1888. But while this was a major automotive milestone, the first car was made in 1769–over a hundred years earlier. Cugnot’s 1769 steam powered “fardier” or cart was the first automobile. See a replica in action.RELATED: How Did the Cannonball Run Record Start? (Cannonball History Part 1) |
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