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Dual- and even quad-engine cars were designed, and engine displacement ranged to more than 12 L (730 cu in). Many modern advances, including gas/electric hybrids, multi-valve engines, overhead camshafts, and four-wheel drive, were attempted and discarded at this time.
Internal combustion engines date back to between the 10th and 13th centuries, when the first rocket engines were invented in China. Following the first commercial steam engine (a type of external combustion engine) by Thomas Savery in 1698, various efforts were made during the 18th century to develop equivalent internal combustion engines.
1964 – Ion engine invented. [21] 1966 – RD-0410 nuclear thermal rocket engine was ground-tested. 1960s – alternators replace generators on automobile engines. [22] 1970s – electronically controlled ignition appears in automobile engines.
Mass-produced diesel engines for passenger cars (such as the Mercedes-Benz OM 138) became available in the late 1930s and early 1940s, being the first fuel-injected engines for passenger car use. [1] In passenger car petrol engines, fuel injection was introduced in the early 1950s and gradually gained prevalence until it had largely replaced ...
This model was initially equipped with a 3.5 L (214 cu in) V8 engine. [14] However, only three cars were made before Rolls-Royce reverted to using straight-six engines for their cars. [14] [3] In 1907, the Hewitt Touring Car became the first car built in the United States with a V8 engine. [15]
They were first invented in the early 1800s, and became a viable option of transportation around 1890, when William Morrison created the first electric car that traveled 14 miles per hour. The electric cars offered low pollution and a soundless ride, unlike their gasoline counterparts. The greatest downside of electric cars was the range.
The smaller engines were commonly air-cooled and located at the rear of the vehicle; compression ratios were relatively low. The 1970s and 1980s saw an increased interest in improved fuel economy , which caused a return to smaller V-6 and four-cylinder layouts, with as many as five valves per cylinder to improve efficiency.
1924 Doble Model E steam car. Attempts were made to bring more advanced steam cars on the market, the most remarkable being the Doble Steam Car [51] which shortened start-up time very noticeably by incorporating a highly efficient monotube steam generator to heat a much smaller quantity of water along with effective automation of burner and ...