Automobiles (also cars or motorcars) are four-wheeled vehicles that seat one to eight people. They use chemical energy stored in gasoline or electrical energy stored in batteries to turn their wheels, propel them forward, and make them move. They are the most common way to get around town, and one of the most recognizable forms of modern technology. They also symbolize the promise of the industrial age and of the modern world.
The first automobile was a steam-powered machine built by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot of France in 1769. It was heavy and moved slowly. Later manufacturers used electric motors to power their cars. These were easy to operate but had the disadvantage that they ran slow and needed to be recharged often. When oil became plentiful and cheap in the 1950s and 1960s, car makers began to produce larger vehicles that consumed a lot of fuel. At that time they started to add new features such as automatic controls, power steering, and cruise control.
In the 1970s, when Arab oil-producing countries started to raise prices for their product, the public demanded more fuel efficient vehicles. Today, car manufacturers continue to work hard to reduce fuel consumption. Some of the latest models have been designed to run on alternative fuels such as electricity and ethanol.
The most popular types of automobiles are sedans, hatchbacks, station wagons, and SUVs. A sedan is a type of vehicle that has four doors and usually seats only five people. A hatchback has two doors and is typically more sporty than a sedan. An SUV is a larger version of an automobile that is designed to handle rough terrain and carry more passengers than a sedan can.