The automotive industry is rapidly changing, with global automakers like Tesla and Hyundai developing electric and autonomous vehicles. These technologies are being seen as key to solving environmental and social problems, such as reducing air pollution and preventing traffic accidents.
Tesla Motors, a famous American electric car company, produces only electric cars. Tesla’s cars can be recharged through Superchargers, which are free rapid charging stations. The company is also working on self-driving cars that can drive automatically after sensors on the car analyze driving information. Google is also working on driverless cars that can drive themselves. South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company has announced its intention to usher in the “Car to Life” era, which aims to center cars around life. Hyundai also announced plans to develop a “Hyper-connected & Intelligent Car,” which is similar to a high-performance computer.
In recent years, cars have become an essential means of transportation for people, and people engage in various activities in the car, such as listening to music or watching TV. As such, various types of cars are being researched and developed today, and cars have become a big part of people’s daily lives.
A car is a wheeled transportation vehicle that is powered by electricity. According to Hyundai’s website, the ECU (Electronic Control Unit or Engine Control Unit) of a car is similar to the human brain, and the engine is similar to the heart in that it generates power through pistons. The frame that supports the body of the car is similar to the human skeleton, and the joints that cushion shocks are similar to the suspension. In this way, the key to how a car generates power and moves is in its internal structure.
The internal structure of a car is divided into two main parts: the body and the chassis. The body consists of the engine compartment where the engine generates power, the passenger compartment where passengers ride, and the trunk where luggage is stored. The other part of the car is called the chassis, which is responsible for the basic functions of the car and includes the engine, steering, suspension, brake system, etc. Among them, the piston engine is the core device that provides power to the car.
Car engines are categorized into three types depending on how they work: two-stroke cycle engines, four-stroke cycle engines, and rotary engines. The most common type of internal combustion engine is the four-stroke cycle engine. A four-stroke cycle engine consists of four stages: intake, compression, detonation, and exhaust, all of which take place to complete a single cycle. The sequence of operation of a four-stroke engine is as follows First, the intake stroke begins, where the piston descends, lowering the pressure inside the cylinder and allowing a mixture of air and fuel to enter the cylinder. Then, the intake valve closes and the piston rises, compressing the mixture. This is followed by the detonation stroke, in which the explosive pressure created by the combustion of the mixture causes the piston to descend and generate power. Finally, the exhaust valve opens and the piston rises, expelling the burned gases out of the cylinder. This process causes the crankshaft to rotate a total of two times.
The power generated by the engine is transmitted to the powertrain. The power transmission system is a device that transmits the power generated by the engine to the wheels to drive the car, and can be divided into front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive, which transmits power to the front and rear wheels. In general, the power transmission path is as follows: engine → clutch → transmission → propulsion shaft → longitudinal reduction device → differential gear → axle → wheel → tire. The first device to transmit the power generated by the engine is the clutch, which is located between the engine and the transmission and is responsible for transmitting or blocking power to the tires. After passing through the clutch, the power is transferred to the transmission, which controls speed by either matching the engine’s power to speed or disconnecting it from the tires. From there, the power travels through several axles and gears to reach the wheels.
The other component of the chassis, the steering, is the device that controls the direction of the car’s travel and consists of a steering wheel and a steering axle. The suspension is responsible for absorbing the shocks that occur while driving to improve ride comfort and keep the tires in firm contact with the ground. Depending on where it”s mounted, the suspension can be strut type for the front wheels and rigid axle or independent suspension for the rear wheels. Brakes are used to slow down or stop a car, and they work by converting friction into heat energy. Hydraulic brakes are commonly used in passenger cars, but air brakes are more common in larger vehicles.
The body and chassis come together to form the car. Transportation has existed since ancient times. Initially, they were powered by natural energy or animals, but with the development of industry, they evolved into cars with internal combustion engines. Wooden wheels found in Mesopotamian ruins (circa 3500 BC) show the long history of human transportation.
In the modern era, the practical use of the steam engine led to the rise of the automobile. In 1769, Frenchman Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot invented a steam-powered tricycle to transport military cannons. In the late 19th century, German engineers Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Friedrich Benz developed the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine, laying the foundation for the modern automobile. Later, Henry Ford democratized the automobile by introducing a mass production system in 1908. By the 1950s, cars were widely available worldwide, and many advancements were made in their engines, speed, and appearance.
In the modern era, advances in science and technology have led to the emergence of cars that use new energy sources. In preparation for the depletion of natural resources, the cars of the future will use eco-friendly fuels, and various types of cars are currently being researched and sold, including electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Cars are divided into passenger cars, sports SUVs, cargo vehicles, public transportation buses, etc. according to their purpose, and passenger cars are subdivided into sedans, coupes, wagons, etc. SUVs are vehicles with high wheelbase and ground clearance, while trucks are mainly used to transport cargo. Trucks are structurally simple and sturdy, with a dedicated container mounted on top of the chassis.
The invention of the automobile changed people’s lives dramatically. Cars have shortened travel times, made it possible to travel in any weather and any place, and made the transportation of goods more efficient. However, there are also negative effects, such as air pollution from car exhaust, traffic accidents, and noise problems.
However, advances in automobiles are addressing these issues. For example, Tesla’s electric cars are quieter and more energy efficient than traditional internal combustion engine cars. Driverless cars have the potential to increase transportation efficiency, reduce accidents, and save people time.
The history of the automobile, which began in the 17th century, has been a continuous one, and today it is part of people’s daily lives in many forms. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Daimler AG, believes that the car of the future will become more than just a means of transportation, but a personal living space. Cars will continue to evolve, and new forms of automobiles will emerge.
