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Learn about the origins and evolution of the automobile, from ancient and medieval times to the 20th century. Find out who built the first steam-powered, electric, and gasoline-powered vehicles, and how they influenced the industry.
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Learn about the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the first practical modern automobile built by Karl Benz in 1885 and patented in 1886. Discover its history, specifications, and the famous trip by Bertha Benz in 1888.
- Mary Bellis
- Internal Combustion Engine: The Heart of the Automobile. An internal combustion engine is an 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 Importance of Nicolaus Otto. One of the most important landmarks in engine design comes from Nicolaus August Otto who in 1876 invented an effective gas motor engine.
- Karl Benz. In 1885, German mechanical engineer, Karl Benz designed and built the world's first practical automobile to be powered by an internal-combustion engine.
- Gottlieb Daimler. In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler (together with his design partner Wilhelm Maybach) took Otto's internal combustion engine a step further and patented what is generally recognized as the prototype of the modern gas engine.
Dec 11, 2012 · Learn about the different claims and controversies over who invented the first automobile. Find out how steam-powered, gasoline-powered and electric vehicles shaped the history of transportation.
Nov 8, 2023 · Learn about the origins and evolution of the car, from early steam-powered vehicles to Karl Benz's Motorwagen in 1886. Discover the first car company, the first car trip, and the first car innovators who shaped the automotive industry.
Jul 15, 2024 · The car designed by them and sold as the Locomobile became the first commercially successful American-made automobile (about 1,000 were built in 1900). It is estimated that in the early 21st century there were still some 600 steam cars in the United States, most of them in running order.
The world’s first production car with some 1200 units built was the Benz Velo of 1894, a lightweight, durable and inexpensive compact car. 1897 saw the development of the “twin engine” consisting of two horizontal single-cylinder units in parallel, however this proved unsatisfactory.
