| p>Unlike most inventions, the automobile was not | | | | somewhere between 1832 and 1839 Robert Anderson |
| an instant creation by an ingenious inventor; however | | | | of Scotland is said to have created the first electric |
| there are certain landmark moments in the history of | | | | carriage. The Electrical engines had flaws as well; they |
| the modern day automobile. An estimated 100,000 | | | | proved to be heavy, slow and expensive. Additionally, |
| patents are said to have created the car as we know | | | | their batteries needed to be recharged frequently. Due |
| it. Leonardo Da Vinci and Isaac Newton are credited | | | | to these problems, both the steam powered engines |
| with drawing up the first theoretical plans for a motor | | | | and the electrical engines were abandoned for |
| vehicle. Nicolas Joseph Cugnot was a French engineer | | | | gas-powered vehicles. |
| and mechanic, in 1769 he invented the very first | | | | During the early 1900s, the electrical cars had great |
| self-propelled road vehicle using a steam engine. The | | | | sales in the United States but by the 1920s, a much |
| French Army used the vehicle to move artillery. This | | | | better system of roads was built and people needed |
| was followed by Nicolas with the design of a tricycle | | | | automobiles that could travel for a long range. After |
| with the ability to carry four passengers and powered | | | | crude oil was discovered in Texas the price of |
| by a steam engine. Interestingly enough Cugnot is also | | | | gasoline was reduced father heralding the dawn of |
| the first person to be involved in a motor vehicle | | | | gas powered vehicles. Probably, the biggest factor in |
| accident as he drove one of the vehicles into a stone | | | | the popularity of gas powered cars was Henry Ford |
| wall in 1771. | | | | and his ability to mass produce internal combustion |
| There is debate as to whether the steam powered | | | | engines. Mass production of these vehicles also made |
| road vehicles of Nicolas Joseph Cugnot can be | | | | them widely affordable and hence popular. Figures |
| categorized as automobiles. People who accept the | | | | show that whereas a gasoline car could be bought at |
| notion call him the first inventor of the automobile. The | | | | $650 in 1912, an electric roadster would cost around |
| design was further improved by Onesiphore Pecqeur | | | | $1,750. Electric cars all but vanished by 1935 but during |
| in France. In the U.S. Oliver Evans received the patent | | | | the 1960s and 1970s there was major concern |
| for a steam-powered land vehicle. A road carriage | | | | regarding the exhaust emissions from internal |
| powered by steam was built in Richard Trevithick in | | | | combustion engines hence there was a need for |
| Great Britain in 1801. Steam powered vehicles became | | | | alternative fueled vehicles. Electric cars were revived |
| relatively popular and many improvements were made | | | | partially for utility based jobs for example the United |
| to the original designs. | | | | States Postal Service in 1975 bought 350 electric |
| However, the steam engine design proved to be very | | | | delivery jeeps which were to be used in a test |
| popular for locomotives but it added too much weight | | | | program. Currently, a lot of work and research is being |
| to the road vehicles, which proved to be a major | | | | put into manufacturing electric cars as a viable |
| hassle. Although the exact year is uncertain, | | | | alternative. |