Automobiles are an important part of modern society. They serve as the lifeline of humans and have a major impact on our daily lives. Increasing numbers of people are using them and the demand is increasing by five to ten percent per year. In fact, cars are responsible for over three trillion miles of traveling worldwide.
Automobiles are a complex technical system. Their design depends on the type of transportation they are used for. The automobile has a body, an engine, a transmission system, and several other subsystems. These systems were developed from competition among manufacturers throughout the world.
The automobile was developed in the late nineteenth century. It was the answer to the 19th century dream of a self-propelling carriage. This first model had steerable front wheels, a horizontal single-cylinder gasoline engine, and a drive chain from the rear wheel.
Modern vehicles employ thousands of component parts. A vehicle’s basic components are its body, engine, transmission system, and suspension system.
A vehicle’s performance is measured by its fuel efficiency, payload capacity, and economy. For example, a BMW R 1250 GS has an estimated 50 miles per gallon, and the Audi Q5 Sport Back 45 TFSI Quattro is expected to achieve 25 mpg.
A motorcycle’s definition is a bit more ambiguous. Some courts have ruled that a bike is not an automobile if it has sidecars. However, they do not rule it out if it has a three-wheeled frame.
Moreover, many people confuse a motorcycle with an automobile. But there are a few important differences.