History of Car Development from Time to Time

Cars have become a part of modern human life. The existence of cars really helps human mobility when carrying out daily activities.

Especially now, the models and types of cars are very diverse. Starting from the family wagon or now better known as  a sports utility vehicle  (SUV), to the luxury sedan class which provides more comfort.

The machines offered are also very diverse. Like the 1,000-1,500 cc class for urban cars. Or cars with engines above 2,000 cc which are widely used by cars with four-wheel drive.

However, this time we will not discuss the current car variants. Next time we will explore the history of cars. What was the process and development of cars from the 19th century to the second millennium? Let's look at it together.

Pre 1880s

Long before anyone else thought of something that could take them to another place more youthfully, Leonardo da Vinci created the concept of a "car" in 1478. This concept did not yet use a machine and was still a sketch on paper.

Hundreds of years later, humans began to make motorized vehicles. Using this steam engine was used to assist the movement of French military needs in the 1870s in carrying war equipment.

This steam engine is assisted by three driving wheels. His speed at that time was believed to be the same as a human's walking speed.

Decade of 1880

After that, vehicles with gasoline engines appeared. Using three wheels as propulsion, this vehicle was created by German mechanic Karl Benz in 1885.

Not to be outdone, in America Henry Ford built his first car in 1886. This was the forerunner of cars in the modern era.

Decade of 1900

At the beginning of the 20th century, the simple cars that had been created began to undergo evolution. When it was first introduced, cars at that time did not yet use the round steering wheel that we know today.

Before 1900, car steering wheels were only half a circle in shape. Some even use a kind of stick to move the front wheels to the right and left. After 1900, round steering wheels began to be used and made it easier to move the car.

The speed of the car has started to increase. Can reach 15-20 km/hour. This is faster than the speed of a person walking which is around 6 km/hour. That's why the government of the state of Alabama, United States, limited the maximum speed of cars at that time to only 12 km/hour.

In this era, Ford began to introduce the phenomenal Model T. Thanks to the help of machines, the car manufacturing process accelerated from 7.5 units/hour to 146 units/hour.

In 1913 the world's first hybrid engine was born. It was Ferdinand Porsche who invented a hybrid engine called the Lohne-Porsche Mixte Hybrid. Porsche was only 18 years old when it invented this engine.

Decade of 1920

In the middle of the 20th century, the world was hit by war. The automotive industry was also affected. They focused on creating vehicles that could be useful on the battlefield.

One of the most important inventions of this decade is the four-wheel drive vehicle. This vehicle is very suitable for use on battlefields that have uneven ground conditions.

This military vehicle has quite high speed even though it has to explore areas with up and down contours. Nowadays, people know it as Jeep.

Decade of 1950

After the world war ended, automotive manufacturers were again able to develop the technology they had at that time. Engines with injection technology appeared in January 1951.

The first cars to use this injection engine were the Gutbrod Superior and the Goliath GP 700 E sports coupe. These two cars were officially marketed to the public and received quite positive reception.

In early 1956, new technology was discovered again. This time the catalytic converter prototype began to be made. This was the result of public anxiety at that time regarding the amount of carbon dioxide which continued to increase along with the increasing number of vehicles.

However, Eugene Houdry's technology at that time was still only a trial and was applied to gasoline engines. However, this idea could be said to have gone far ahead compared to the technology that was developing at that time.

1960 decade

The history of cars entered a more advanced era. Cars are becoming increasingly popular with more compact and functional designs.

This cannot be separated from the influence of the presence of the VW Beetle, which had an unusual design and was consecrated as a people's car. The VW Beetle was the inspiration for the emergence of the Corolla, Civic and Focus series, which were pioneering cars with simpler and less bulky designs.

Since then, car manufacturers have begun competing to create simpler vehicles.

1970 decade

The security aspect for passengers in vehicles began to be introduced in this decade. Starting with the emergence of airbag technology in 1974. Coupled with seat belts which can help passengers avoid serious injury in an accident.

This cannot be separated from the speed of the car which continues to increase. The machines used have a larger capacity which results in a higher maximum speed.

It was proven that in 1970, a vehicle with a special engine was capable of reaching up to 1,000 km/hour. This vehicle, named "Blue Flame", was named the fastest vehicle on earth during a test in the Bonneville Salt Field, Utah, United States.

The 1980 and 1990 decades

After the United States dominated the automotive world for several decades, starting in 1980, a serious competitor emerged. Japan, which was devastated by war, has begun to recover.

Japanese brands such as Honda and Toyota have even been able to penetrate the United States market. Japanese manufacturers offer vehicles that are different from Uncle Sam's products, thereby attracting the interest of the people there.

The technology developed is able to compete with cars produced in the United States and Europe. Like when Toyota first introduced the phenomenal Toyota Prius in 1997.

The Toyota Prius is the world's first hybrid car. This car became the inspiration for future technological cars produced decades later.

Decade 2000

The history of the automobile continued to develop positively in the second millennium. A number of new technologies are emerging. Everything aims to create vehicles that are more efficient and environmentally friendly.

The desire to create environmentally friendly vehicles was seen when Peugeot was able to get the government and automotive manufacturers in Europe to start using filters in car engines. The use of this filter has finally become mandatory for all European cars produced for the health of their users.

Honda didn't want to lose either. In 2007, this Japanese manufacturer began producing environmentally friendly hydrogen fueled cars. This Honda production car is named FCX Clarity.

Future

Fuel efficient and environmentally friendly engines are the focus of every automotive manufacturer in the world. Even though it is still only on a prototype scale, manufacturers are showing their seriousness about the impact of the increasing amount of CO2 on the face of the earth.

As VW showed when they introduced their fuel-efficient vehicle prototype in March 2013. At that time, VW showed their car could cover a distance of 100 km on just 1 liter of petrol.

In the world of Formula 1 racing, vehicles using battery power are also being introduced. The FIA, as the world car racing authority, has started holding electric car racing events in 2014. The plan is that in 2018, formula car races with electric-powered engines will start being held.

The most advanced technology currently is that developed by Tesla. This manufacturer creates autonomous cars like airplanes with autopilot mode. Even though it has received a lot of criticism, public interest in autonomous cars is apparently quite large.