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Gas Powered Combustion Engines
In the year 1920, the first gas powered combustion engine was invented. This was revolutionary for the development of the automobile because gas engines had more range, power and were more efficient than the steam engines used before it. Shortly after the invention of the gas engine the steam engine was rendered obsolete. To this day the gas powered engine hasn't changed much from the function to the components. -
Run Flat Tires
Run flat tires were invented in 1935. Their function is that when your tire gets punctures and goes flat you still have enough air in that tire to make it to a garage to get it repaired. When using it's those tires you have to reduce your speed to by about 8 km/h and you only have a max distance of 16 km left on that tire you can use. Run flat tires have saved many people lots of money in towing expenses and have lowered the need for people to change their tires on the side of the road. -
Automatic Transmissions
The automatic transmission was invented in the 1940s and is the now the standard transmissions in cars today. the first automatic transmission was created by General Motors who named it the "Hydra-Matic" and made it the first mass produced automatic transmission which made driving significantly easier for people because there are less components to pay attention to. Today, most young and experienced drivers will tell you they have never driven a car with a manual transmission. -
Seat Belts
The American car manufacturing company Nash invented the first seat belt in the year 1949 and were optional to be put into cars as there was no law ordering companies to include seat belts. The first company to add seat belts as a standard was a Swedish car company Saad in 1958. The first seat belt law was implemented in they year 1970. Studies have shown that seat belts do actually work and have shown a 45% decrease in fatal injuries and 50% less moderate to critical injuries. -
Power Steering and Power Braking
The first power steering and power braking systems were invented in the year 1951 by Chrysler. in theory power steering and power braking has been around since the first cars were invented but the power systems were too expensive to put in all cars for the public. Before the power braking and steering technology, you needed lots of power to turn the wheel or hit the brakes in your vehicle. With the power steering and braking it made steering and braking way easier for drivers. -
Global positioning system (GPS) and Electronic Maps
In the year 1973 the first GPS and electronic maps were invented. The main purpose of these devices were to prevent people form getting lost in their cars guide people when they got lost. Regular maps were very ineffective and weren't practical because to use it drivers had to pull over to find their destination manually which could take a long time. Most vehicles have GPS's and electronic maps built in which also tell you where to go to get to your destination safely. -
Anti-lock Brakes
The first anti-lock brake ever created was manufactured by Mercedes Benz in 1978. Most car companies were looking to innovate braking systems by making them electric in the 1960s into the early 1970s. The electric braking systems help drivers remain in control of their vehicle while stopping their vehicle, and automatically stopping cars from rolling over on impact after a collision. This braking system revolutionized automobiles because it is standard for cars to have this system installed. -
Airbags
Wide spread use of airbags in automobiles began in the 1980s. When airbags were first implemented in vehicles only the driver had an airbag. After car companies notices how effective airbags were for saving lives after crashes they decided to add airbags to every seat in the vehicle. To this day airbags are still improving decreasing fatalities while driving. In 2011, General Motors invented the first front, central airbag which protected drivers and passengers from side collisions. -
Key Fobs
The first set of key fobs was introduced in 1993 in that years Chevy corvette. They are used to replace the use of keys to unlock doors manually. Key fobs allow you to unlock your car without using a key, you can set off the alarm in the event of a robbery and in some cars you can open the trunk of the car. These handy devices allow your car to remember your seat and mirror preferences for maximum comfort when you drive. -
Electric Engines
The first electric engine was invented in 2010 as a hybrid engine. many manufacturers didn't think the idea of electric engines would take off. The electric engines were very efficient and are continuously improving and taking over gas and diesel powered engines and are becoming the standard in automobiles. Electric engines are revolutionizing our world because people aren't paying as much as they would if they were paying for gas or diesel and they are better for our environment.
