The modern automobile, usually four-wheeled, is a highly complex technical system that functions as a vehicle for passenger transportation. It is propelled by an internal combustion engine, powered most often by gasoline, a liquid petroleum product. It is one of the most widespread of modern technologies, with 1.4 billion cars in operation worldwide.
Automobiles have revolutionized the world by providing greater personal freedom and creating new industries. Their main negatives and modern problems include air pollution, climate change and depletion of natural resources like fossil fuels. Automobiles generate a lot of greenhouse gases by releasing exhaust fumes, which help heat the Earth’s atmosphere.
Invented in the late 1800s, the modern automobile is driven by an internal combustion engine fueled with gasoline. Its development was accelerated by cheap raw materials and the absence of tariff barriers to international sales. In the United States, the development of automobile production techniques by manufacturers such as Henry Ford led to mass production and a consolidated industry.
The advantages of owning an automobile are that you can get to your destination on time without the unpredictability of public transportation or having to coordinate a ride with friends. It also allows you to stay at home more often, and your car serves as an extension of your private space. However, there are disadvantages to owning a car, such as having to maintain it and find a parking spot. Also, most of the modern cars run on gasoline which releases a gas called carbon dioxide, which causes greenhouse gases to enter the atmosphere and warm the earth.