automobile history

“One day you will be able to build wagons able to move and keep their movement without being pushed or pulled by any animal�

Roger Bacon, XIII century The history of the automobile as a working mean of transport began in the nineteenth century. It is however based on models designed previously; the date of the invention of the car can not be established with absolute accuracy

Automobile or Carro Semovente, Model Leonardo da Vinci

Automobile or Carro Semovente, Model Leonardo da Vinci

The Chariot of Cugnot, Designed in 1769 was driven by a steam engine with two vertical cylinders of 325 mm diameter and 387 mm stroke, for a total displacement of about 62,000 cm³. This “monster”, able to carry a load of more than 4 tons, nicknamed “car driven by fire” proceeded slowly only about a dozen minutes, reaching a peak of estimated speed lower than 10 km / h; although this brief exhibition marked the beginning of the history of motorization

The Chariot of Cugnot 1771

The Chariot of Cugnot 1771 - the first car accident

The Chariot of Cugnot was a fundamental prototype, but characterized by several features in common with other inventions like the locomotive and the motorized tricycle. It did not constitute, at the moment, a viable alternative to animal traction.

Subsequent progress led to a real breakthrough only after a hundred years, mainly thanks to the models introduced by entrepreneurs like Carl Benz.

The nineteenth century: gas, gasoline and diesel Even in the nineteenth century were built cars with steam traction. In addition, engineers and inventors continued to work on muscular wheel drive models or sail. Technology competition became immediate

In 1802, the Swiss Isaac de Rivaz put up the first car with an internal combustion engine.

1839 was the year of the first electric car, introduced by Robert Anderson of Aberdeen.

In 1860 the Belgian Etienne Lenoir was then able to develop a model gas powered which was applied to some tricycles called hippomobile.

In 1864 the Italian Innocenzo Manzetti introduced the first modern steam car able to move along the roads (Aosta Valley and Piedmont between 1869 and 1870).

1802, the Swiss Isaac de Rivaz put up the first car with an internal combustion engine.

1802, the Swiss Isaac de Rivaz put up the first car with an internal combustion engine.

In 1883 were founded the first automobile factories: in France in Puteaux, the De Dion, Bouton et Trepardoux and in Germany in Mannheim, Benz & Cie. Founded by German engineer Carl Benz, who left AG Gasmotorenfabrik established in 1882.

The De Dion Bouton et Trepardoux built in 1884 one of the first motor cars. It was fueled by steam, coal, wood and paper. It was called La Marquise and the maximum speed was about 61 km / h. Together with the previous Mancelle, 1878

by Amédée Bollée, is considered the oldest car series in the world.

1884 La Marquise fueled by steam, coal, wood and paper.

In 1884 Enrico Bernardi realized in Verona a prototype vehicle with a petrol engine, with three wheels, powered by an engine of small power. The prototype was presented at the international exhibition in Turin in 1884 and is currently preserved at the Faculty of Engineering in Padua.

In 1886 Carl Benz, who eight years earlier had been the pioneer of the first internal combustion engine, two-stroke, built the first vehicle with combustion engine. His car reached a top speed of 16 km / h.

Benz Patent Motor Car, the first automobile (1885 – 1886)

In 1892 Rudolf Diesel patented a new model (which improved the efficiency of the 8 cycle), the prelude to the construction of the first Diesel engine.

In 1894 Enrico Bernardi realized his vehicle with petrol engine and, to produce it in the same year was founded Miari & Giusti, first Italian manufacturer of cars.

1892 the first Diesel engine patent

Miari & Giusti

Competition among different engine systems was increasing and ended up being played out before the public: it was thus that the first car races were born. Among them was undoubtedly famous the Paris-Rouen.

Ath the time the petrol engine system seemed to be late to impose itself on others.

The first land speed record officially registered in 1898, is due precisely to an electric car: French Gaston de ChasseloupLaubat reached 63.14 km per hour, while the following year, April 29, 1899 Camille Jenatzy exceeded the 100 km / h with La Jamais Contente, also in this case an electric car.

With its strong sharp line, this car was looking for a solution to its aerodynamics, although premature.

1899 Camille Jenatzy - La Jamais Contente

1899 Camille Jenatzy - La Jamais Contente

The twentieth century: the definitive statement of the gasoline model As we have seen, the twentieth century began with a research in many different directions. As fuel were used substances such as oil and alcohol.

In fact, the gasoline car ended up becoming the most successful model only with the First World War. The first car not carriage-shaped was the Mercedes 35 hp of 1901. It reached 70 km / hour.

Mercedes 35 hp - 1901

Mercedes 35 hp - 1901

Also in Italy at the beginning of the twentieth century began the industrial production of Fiat in Turin, with the technical assistance of the engineer Enrico Bernardi who since 1896 had begun to realize industrial cars with internal combustion engines for the firm Miari and Righteous of Padua.

Foundation of FIAT in1899 in Torino

Fiat 3 ½ CV - 1899 FIAT’s first car

1913 marked an important year for the economy of the European countries.

Henry Ford introduced his company in the assembly line and the conveyor belt, together with the victory of the gasoline engine.

The same year arrived the first car with electric start.

It was not purely technological developments: in fact, hand in hand, the economic theory of Taylorism introduced new standards of productivity, in part by redefining the role of the worker and opening questions of human nature and society.

On the one hand, the new working class rebelled against these dynamics coining the derogatory term of Fordism.

On the other hand it was the first step towards the mass production of cars that could be within the reach of the poorer classes.

The assembly line and the conveyor belt

The assembly line and the conveyor belt

Opportunity was taken by the fascist dictatorships, which saw the development of consumer goods as a factor of full employment and stable base.

Thus began an initial spread of cars in Italy or Germany. 1936 was indeed the year of birth of models like the Fiat Topolino and the Volkswagen Beetle.

Huge effort was taken in the thirties to equip of the nations with a real motorway network.

The car had to cost less than ten thousand marks.

La Fiat 500, meglio conosciuta come “Topolino�, prodotta dal 1936 al 1955.

The Volkswagen Beetle, officially the Volkswagen Type 1, or informally the Volkswagen Bug, 1938 - 2003

After the war, the industrial development allowed several innovations: the radial tires made their appearance on the market in 1948; three years later, was the time of the injection motor.

The Second World War was in many European countries like Italy a very important moment. The partial dismantling of the war and the economic boom promoted the massive diffusion of this means of locomotion.

The mass production after the war

The car becomes more and more a product rich in accessories related to new features. To react to the impressive number of accidents and deaths, the laws of the various countries introduced new technologies like seat belt and air bag.

Consequently, in spite of a further increase of accidents, the number of deaths due to accidents begins to decrease significantly.

Other accessory innovations are on autopilot, introduced in some cars, or automated parking system or autonomous braking of the vehicle in case of danger. The Global Positioning System (GPS) helps the driver to find the optimal route.

In the social environment at the end of the twentieth century, acquired a role of increasing importance the concepts of sustainable mobility and renewable energy.

For example, Brazil is a country that by virtue of its resources widely uses bioethanol for cars with engine Flex. In fact, in this country the refining of sugar cane is one of the most important sources of energy.

On the other hand, the use of agricultural land for the production of fuel has been criticized for the fact to contribute to the deforestation and the rising prices of food

In our collective imagination the flying car has always been present as a means of transport of the distant future, fed by countless science fiction movies and cartoons: “Write down these words: cars and airplanes will be combined.You can smile at, but will” (Henry Ford, 1940) Concretely, have been made over time several studies and projects on this, but the only apparently unsuccessful are those of the Terrafugia Transition and dell’AeroMobil 3.0. Already submitted, should be the first flying car to be placed on the market

The flyng car Terrafugia Transition