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Military Tractor
The very first self-propelled road vehicle was a military tractor invented by French engineer and mechanic, Nicolas Joseph Cugnot. This has an impact on people because it increases human transportation speeds. -
Britain’s Steam Powered Cars
Britians steam powered cars were invented in 1801 by Richard Trevithick when he improved the design of steam engines by making the cars smaller and lighter with stronger boilers generating more power. This has an impact on people because it's a more efficent way to travel. -
Steam Engine
Samuel Brown, an English engineer, used the steam engine to power up a vehicle to the top of Shooter's Hill - this was the highest point in south London. This has an impact on the people because it was the first time a car used oxegyn and hydrogen gas. -
Coal-gas engine
The first coal-gas engine was invinted by Jean Joseph Étienne Lenoir by using a two-stroke, internal combustion engine .
the engine was fuelled by coal gas and triggered by an electric spark-ignition. This is significanrt because it was more efficent and faster. -
Speed Restrication
Speed restrictions were introduced to the UK by The Locomotive Act which states that horse-less vehicles can only go up to 4mph in open country and 2 mph in towns. This act also required three drivers per vehicle; two to travel in the vehicle and one to walk ahead waving a red flag. For the following 30 years cars weren't allowed to travel above walking speed. This is significant because we use speed limits still today. -
Otto Cycle
The four-stroke engine, otherwise known as the “Otto cycle” was successfully invented by Nikolaus August Otto. This is significant because today, we use internal combustion engines in cars, trucks, motorcycles, aircraft, and construction machinery, which all most commonly use a four-stroke cycle. -
Clerk Cycle
The same year as the otto cycle, the first successful two-stroke engine was invented by a Scottish engineer, Sir Dugald Clerk. This is significant because this is widely used on light motorcycles and other small machines today. -
Motor Age
Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz, two engineers working in separate parts of Germany, simultaneously formulated a successful and practically powered vehicles. This is significant because this worked like cars that we use today. This is when modern motor cars had begun. -
First Motor Company
Rene Panhard and Emile Levassor, two former French wood machinists, made the world’s first car manufacturers. Their first car was built in 1890 when they used a Daimler engine. Another French company, Peugeot was formed the following year this is significant because this is still going strong today. -
Wilhelm Maybach
Builidng the first four-cylinder, four-stroke engine Wilhelm Maybach, three years later, developed a spray-nozzle carburettor. This is significant because it becomes the basis for modern carburettor technology. 10 years later, Maybach developed a race car, named Mercedes, using lightweight metals, four-cylinder engine, and two carburettors. The car reached 64.4 km per hour and broke the world speed record. -
Grand Prix
Races quickly went from the streets to organized events around the time cars were being built with competition speeds exceeding 100 mph. This is significant because we have NASCAR now which is an orginized car racing. -
First Road Traffic Death
A 44- year old mother, Bridget Driscoll, from Croydon, stepped off a kerb and was hit by a passing motor car doing just 4mph at the time near Crystal Palace in London. She passwed away due to head injuries. The driver, Arthur Edsell, said “I trust that this sort of nonsense will never happen again.” This is significant because people get hit by moving vehicles often today. -
Ford Motor Company
Ford became the world's biggest car manufacturer after fitting moving assembly lines to the factory in 1913. By 1927, 15 million Model Ts had been made. This is significant because to this day Ford is still a huge car manufacturer. -
Electric Ignition and Starter Motor
The electric ignition and starter motor was invented by Charles Kettering so that cars could now start themselves. Kettering later four-wheel brakes. This is significant because today we have vehicles that start up on their own and have efficent brakes. -
Air Conditioner
The Nash Motor Company adds the first air conditioning system to cars. This is significant because it helps people cool down when it's really hot outside. -
Air Bags
John W. Hetrick invented the first air bag in 1951 for the saftey of his family. Air bags were not used in cars until 1971 when Ford built an experimental fleet of cars with them. Following them was General Motors with 1,000 experimental cars. Then were finally sold to the public in 1975. This is significant because air bags save lifes still today and are safe. -
Seat Belts
Safety devices became mandatory – before 1965 manufacturers only included seat belts as optional extras. This is significant because seatbelts today are still mandatory for your safety. -
Gas Prices
Oil prices increased dramitically causing a world shortage. In America it was common due to the huge gas consuming cars. Gas prices were suddenly something to think about when people were buying a car. This is significant because depending on what kind of car you have today gas prices can still be ridiculous. -
Safe Stopping Distance
German manufacurers, Bosch invented the first antilock braking systems (ABS) which were developed for automobiles. They first appeared in trucks and cars made by Mercedes-Benz. ABS brakes allowed drivers to maintain steering control and to shorten braking distances in case they needed to stop suddenly. This is significant because it is important to have a car with ABS because it's safer. -
Going Green
Manufacturers are now developing engines that use more hybrid engines. Honda and Toyota introduced their electric hybrids to the Japanese market, before releasing them in America and Europe in 2002. This is significant because hybird cars are better for the enviroment and save gas.
