The automobile has become an integral part of American culture. From the first Model T Fords that rolled off the assembly line in 1908 to the sleek, artful mid-century modern designs that cruised the nation’s highways and byways in the 50s, the development of the automobile has been a key factor in America’s rise as an industrial powerhouse. Many of the advances in science and technology that have facilitated this transformation were first applied to the automobile. The modern car is a complex technical system combining subsystems with specific design functions. Some of these developments have come from breakthroughs in existing technology and others are a result of new technologies such as high-strength plastics, advanced alloys of steel and nonferrous metals, electronic computers, and safety systems.
The earliest automobiles were powered by steam, which was drawn into the engine using water or coal and burned to produce electricity. Later, other manufacturers experimented with electric cars that ran on batteries and required the user to manually crank them. Gasoline became cheap in the United States after its discovery in Texas, which made gasoline-powered cars a popular choice for consumers. By 1920, automobiles had overtaken the streets and byways of Europe and America. Henry Ford’s invention of the assembly line—a production process in which workers perform only one step at a time and car parts pass by on conveyor belts—revolutionized manufacturing and cut the price of his Model T. This allowed him to compete with European manufacturers and win the market.
In the postwar era, automobile manufacturers focused on mass production to meet consumer demand. As a result, engineering was often subordinated to questionable aesthetics and nonfunctional styling. Quality deteriorated, as well. By the middle of the 1960s, American-made cars averaged twenty-four defects per unit, most of them safety-related. This era ended with a series of government-imposed standards for automotive safety, emissions of pollutants and energy consumption, and rising gasoline prices that forced Americans to abandon their lust for gas-guzzling road cruisers in favor of fuel-efficient, functionally designed, small cars.
Pros: Car ownership allows individuals to travel freely and independently without relying on public transportation or the assistance of friends. It is also useful for those who need to take a job that requires frequent travel or for people with disabilities that make walking difficult or impossible. Cars can also open up a range of social and economic opportunities, including outdoor recreational activities that would otherwise be limited by access to public transport.
Cons: Most cars run on gasoline, which releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. This is also a significant source of air pollution, which can cause respiratory problems and other health conditions in humans. Driving a car can also be inconvenient for those who live far from work or school.
Cars require maintenance, which can be expensive. They also produce a lot of waste, such as oil, batteries and plastics. Additionally, they generate a lot of greenhouse gases when they are driven, which can affect the climate. Despite these drawbacks, cars are an important mode of transportation for many people.