Sylvie Willis
The first cars were fueled by gasoline, with the Duryea Brothers credited as inventors of the first gasoline-powered automobile. However, gasoline was hard to find and expensive, and early cars were prone to breaking down. Before the advent of gas stations, drivers bought gasoline in canisters at general stores. Wealthy car owners employed chauffeurs who were responsible for acquiring fuel, and for working on the engine and other parts of the vehicle. Early cars were considered a novelty, and it wasn't until Bertha Benz's historic long-distance drive in 1888 that the usefulness of the automobile was proven.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first internal combustion engine | 1826 |
| Inventor of the first internal combustion engine | Samuel Brown |
| Year of the first modern car | 1886 |
| Inventor of the first modern car | Carl Benz |
| Fuel of the first modern car | Gasoline |
| Year of the discovery of oil in Texas | 1901 |
| Year of the first gas station | 1920s |
| Number of gasoline-powered vehicles on the road in the 1920s | 9 million |
| Year of the first electric car | Between 1832 and 1839 |
| Inventor of the first electric car | Robert Anderson |
| Year of the first hybrid car | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
- Early cars were fuelled by gasoline, which was initially purchased in canisters from general stores
- The Duryea Brothers invented the first gasoline-powered automobile
- Before the 1970s, lead was added to gasoline to improve engine performance
- Wealthy early adopters of automobiles had chauffeurs who were responsible for acquiring fuel
- The first internal combustion-engine cars appeared in Europe in 1885
Early cars were fuelled by gasoline, which was initially purchased in canisters from general stores
The first modern car, a practical, marketable automobile for everyday use, was a gasoline-powered automobile developed by Carl Benz in 1886. He made several identical copies, marking the beginning of the automobile series production. However, before the emergence of gas stations, drivers could purchase gasoline in canisters from general stores.
The Duryea Brothers from Wyoming, Illinois, invented the first gasoline-powered automobile. In 1888, Bertha Benz, the wife of automobile manufacturer Karl Benz, made a historic long-distance drive of over 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Mannheim to Pforzheim to showcase the potential of her husband's vehicles. This journey was a significant breakthrough in demonstrating the usefulness of automobiles.
In the early 1900s, gasoline-powered engines became the norm, while electric-powered cars were also being manufactured. The preference for gasoline-powered engines over electric-powered alternatives was influenced by the limited range of electric cars. Gasoline-powered cars offered an unlimited range, making them more appealing to early drivers despite the challenges of obtaining fuel.
The early adopters of automobiles were typically wealthy individuals who could afford the high expenses associated with car ownership. These early car owners often had chauffeurs who were responsible for acquiring and working on the engine and other vehicle parts. The chauffeurs, or other dedicated servants, would purchase gasoline from general stores or hardware stores to fuel the cars.
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The Duryea Brothers invented the first gasoline-powered automobile
The Duryea brothers, Charles and Frank, invented America's first gasoline-powered automobile. Charles, an engineer, and Frank, a bicycle maker, were initially based in Washington, D.C. and later became headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts. The brothers were inspired by a Benz gasoline-powered car that Charles saw at a fair in Ohio in 1886.
Over the next seven years, the Duryeas designed a prototype of an automobile with a gasoline engine. Charles engineered the automobiles, while Frank built, tested, and raced them. On September 21, 1893, the Duryea brothers road-tested their first-ever working automobile, the "motor wagon", on the Howard Bemis farm in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The vehicle was a used horse-drawn buggy that the brothers had purchased for $70 and installed a 4 HP, single-cylinder gasoline engine.
On November 10, 1893, Frank Duryea test-drove the motor wagon again, this time in a prominent location: past their garage at 47 Taylor Street in Springfield. In March 1896, the Duryea brothers offered the Duryea Motor Wagon for sale, making it the first commercial automobile. In 1896, the Duryea Motor Wagon Company became the first company to manufacture and sell gasoline-powered vehicles, producing 13 cars by hand in their garage, and thus becoming the largest automobile factory in the United States.
The Duryea Motor Wagon's popularity grew after Frank won America's first-ever car race in Chicago on November 28, 1895. The race ran to Evanston, Illinois, and back, and the Duryea vehicle was the only finisher besides one of the three mostly German-made Benz cars. The Duryea brothers' success helped establish the early automotive industry in the United States and demonstrated the potential of gasoline-powered automobiles.
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Before the 1970s, lead was added to gasoline to improve engine performance
The first modern car, a practical, marketable automobile for everyday use, was developed in 1886 by Carl Benz. This gasoline-powered automobile was the first car in series production, and several identical copies were made.
In the early days of automobiles, gasoline was hard to find. This challenge persisted until 1901 when oil was discovered in Texas. Drivers would buy gasoline in canisters at general stores, and they had to carry extra gasoline in cans when taking longer trips.
However, concerns about the health effects of lead arose as early as 1924, with reputable journals questioning the likely health outcomes of fine particles of lead in the atmosphere. These concerns were validated in the 1960s when clinical works were published, proving the toxicity of TEL in humans. Studies found that lead exposure caused lead poisoning, elevated blood pressure, kidney damage, and impaired brain development and cognitive function, especially in children.
By the 1970s, the general opinion of TEL's safety changed, and the U.S. government began requiring a phase-out of its use. The first country to completely ban leaded gasoline was Japan in 1986, and Algeria became the last country to ban it in 2021.
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Wealthy early adopters of automobiles had chauffeurs who were responsible for acquiring fuel
Wealthy early adopters of automobiles were more likely to own a car with an internal combustion engine, powered by gasoline. This was the dominant fuel source for early cars, with the Duryea Brothers credited with inventing the first gasoline-powered automobile. However, there were also those who preferred battery-powered or electric cars, which enjoyed popularity between the late 19th century and early 20th century.
The chauffeurs of these wealthy car owners would have been responsible for acquiring fuel, which was difficult to obtain. Before the existence of gas stations, drivers could buy gasoline in canisters at general stores. Drivers would also carry extra gasoline in cans when taking longer trips, as breakdowns were frequent and cars had a limited range.
The early cars of the wealthy would have been prone to breaking down, and their fuel would have been smelly and noisy. This was a problem for all cars of the time, and fuel was also difficult to source. However, the chauffeurs of the wealthy would have been spared the worry of their car becoming worthless, as rapid innovation meant that a year-old car was nearly worthless.
The role of the chauffeur would have been important in ensuring the car was fuelled and ready to drive, as the process of obtaining fuel was complex. This was true for all car owners of the time, but the wealthy would have been able to employ people to manage this task. The chauffeurs would also have been responsible for the maintenance of the car, which was a novel piece of technology at the time.
The early adoption of automobiles by the wealthy, and their employment of chauffeurs, helped to shape the future of cars and fuel sources. Despite the challenges of obtaining fuel, the potential for the automobile was demonstrated, and the industry developed and spread internationally.
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The first internal combustion-engine cars appeared in Europe in 1885
The late 19th century witnessed a flurry of innovations in the automobile space, with inventors branching out to experiment with engine technologies and build the first steam, electric, and internal combustion-engine cars. The first internal combustion-engine cars made their appearance in Europe in 1885, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of transportation.
The Pioneers of Internal Combustion Engines
Several pioneers laid the groundwork for the development of internal combustion engines, which would eventually power the first automobiles. In 1791, John Barber, an English inventor, patented a gas turbine. Thomas Mead followed suit in 1794 by patenting a gas engine. The same year, Robert Street patented an internal combustion engine, which was also the first to use liquid fuel (petroleum). In 1798, John Stevens designed the first American internal combustion engine.
The First Internal Combustion-Engine Cars in Europe
In 1885, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, two German inventors, designed a vertical cylinder version of their earlier horizontal cylinder engine. This engine was small, compact, and ideal for use in a vehicle. Daimler installed a smaller version of this engine in a wooden two-wheeler frame with two outrigger wheels, creating the first internal combustion-engine motorcycle, named the "Reitwagen" (riding car). Maybach successfully rode this motorcycle for three kilometers alongside the Neckar River, reaching a speed of 12 kilometers per hour.
In the same year, Karl Benz, working independently, also produced an automobile in Germany. He developed the first purpose-built automobile using a 2-cycle engine of his own design. Benz's patent motor car, with its 4-cycle engine, offered a significant improvement in speed and performance over previous attempts, with a maximum speed of 16 kilometers per hour.
The Impact of Internal Combustion-Engine Cars
The introduction of internal combustion-engine cars revolutionized individual mobility and marked a turning point in transportation. While early automobiles were often seen as novelties, breakthroughs such as Bertha Benz's historic long-distance drive in 1888, covering more than 80 kilometers, helped demonstrate the practical potential of these vehicles. The development of the automobile industry accelerated, with the establishment of companies like FIAT in Italy in 1899 and Pioneer in Australia in 1898. The export trade also began, with cars being exported to various colonies and regions.
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Frequently asked questions
Early automobiles were fueled by gasoline, which was often bought in canisters at general stores.
Yes, some inventors experimented with electric-powered engines. However, gasoline-powered engines became the norm due to the limited range of electric cars.
Gasoline became widely recognized as a valuable fuel after the invention of the automobile in 1892. By 1920, there were 9 million vehicles powered by gasoline on the road, and service stations selling gasoline began to open across the United States.
Fueling early automobiles posed several challenges. Gasoline was initially hard to find and had to be purchased in canisters. Early cars also had limited fuel capacity and only did short round trips. Additionally, breakdowns were frequent, and suitable roads for traveling were scarce.
Early automobiles were primarily owned by wealthy individuals who could afford the high expenses associated with owning a car. These owners often had chauffeurs who were responsible for working on the engine and acquiring fuel.
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