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The First Automobile
The first self propelled automobile was a military tractor invented by Nicolas Cugnot. The automobile was powered by a steam engine and was used by the French army to carry artillery. It only drove at a maximum of two and a half miles per hour. The engine and boiler were placed at the front of the vehicle. They were not actually on the car. -
The First Electric Car
(The exact year is unknown) The first unfinished electric carriage was invented by Robert Anderson a Scottish businessman. The automobile closely resembled a carriage. It was powered by non-rechargeable primary cells, Better models were built later on by other inventors. Thomas Davenport was given credit for building the first practical electric automobile in 1834 by converting electromagnetic force into mechanical power. He was not able to patent this design until 1837 -
Seat Belts
Though Edward Claghorn recieved the first patent on the seat belt, Georg Cayley was the first to invent it. He originally made seatbelts to hold pilots in air gliders. The seat belt was eventually adapted for cars. They were invented in the late 1800's. There was no exact date. -
First Gas Powered Car
The first gas powered car was invented by a German inventor so named Karl Benz. He was an engine designer and automobile engineer. He was granted a patent on january 29. The vehicle had three wheels (it came to be known as the tri-car) and was steered by the front wheel. The engine and the passengers were supported by the back two wheels. -
The addition of Air Bags
Dr. David S. Breed was the inventor of the air bags. Air bags are safety devices used in vehicles to prevent the passengers from slamming into hard objects, such as the steering wheel or dash board, when in a car crash. It iconsists of a flexible envelope that will self-deploy during a crash. -
Solar Powered Cars
A solar powered vehicle is powered by solar energy. This energy is better to use because it is a renewable resource. The car gets this energy from the solar panels usually placed on the outside surface of the car somewhere. Then PV (photovaltaic) cells convert the solar energy into electric energy. William G. Cobb invented the first solar powered car.