Automobiles and Motorcycles
The automobile is a vehicle used for transporting people and their belongings. It is an auto propelled machine with four wheels, typically made of steel or aluminum. Depending on the manufacturer and model, it can have a variety of accessories. Such accessories include sidecars, trailers, mobile electronics and more.
Modern automobiles are a complex technical system that consists of thousands of components. They are also a product of innovation, safety legislation and competition among manufacturers throughout the world. A car can carry a large number of passengers. As automobiles have become increasingly popular, manufacturers have divided the market into small segments.
Automobiles can be categorized into two general groups, four-wheeled vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles. Two-wheeled vehicles generally have larger wheels and usually feature gear shifters with automatic clutches. Underbones are a smaller, two-wheeled form of automobiles that traces its roots to the original Honda Super Cub.
Passenger cars are often classified as four-wheeled vehicles, but this definition is subject to dispute. In some countries, a passenger car is a four-wheeled vehicle, while in others it is not. However, the term is frequently used interchangeably, and most definitions will say that a car is a motor vehicle that has four wheels.
Motorcycles, on the other hand, are self-propelled machines that fall under the motor vehicle category. These are usually designed for transportation, but they are also popular for fun on the weekend. Their tires are smaller and less heavy, giving them improved cornering ability.
Both bicycles and motorcycles were invented in the mid-Victorian period. Pedal cycles were commonly equipped with small spark ignition engines. Eventually, bike makers switched to producing motorcycles. During the Art Deco period, automobiles grew in sophistication, with sleek iconography and aircraft-inspired body styles.
Today, modern automobiles are a result of a variety of breakthroughs in technology, including aerodynamics, safety legislation and efficiency. New designs and subsystems are introduced by automakers on a regular basis. Automotive manufacturers strive for economy and reliability, which led to road motorcycle trials.
The United States’ Environmental Protection Agency began to regulate hydrocarbon emissions on motorcycles in 1980. The first motorcycle was built in France by Ernest Michaux. Although he was not the first to develop a motorcycle, he was the first to patent the motorcycle engine.
Several courts have ruled that a motorcycle does not qualify as an automobile. This ambiguity has lead to a patchwork of state regulations. Fortunately, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has taken a stand for clarifying the classification. MRF is requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) clarify its definition of a motorcycle.
The United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland are among the countries that have the highest sales of passenger automobiles. While the European Union has imposed stricter limits on carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, the U.S. and California have set more stringent standards. For example, the EU reduced the emissions of new motorcycles from 0.3 to 0.15 grams of nitric oxides in 2007, and a further decrease to 0.1 grams is expected by 2020.