essay on improvement of car

How the Automobile Changed the World, for Better or Worse

New MoMA exhibition explores artists’ responses to the beauty, brutality and environmental devastation of cars and car culture

Nora McGreevy

Correspondent

A view of a museum gallery with a bright red car on display in front of a light green Beetle; on the wall, an enormous lithograph of a human eye with the words Watch the Fords Go By

In the early 20th century, cars roared into society and revolutionized modern life. Automobiles and their attendant culture molded labor practices , the fight for civil rights , cities, the arts, social life and the environment in radical—and dangerous—ways.

Artists who observed these changes responded with a range of emotions, from fervent admiration to horror. Now, “ Automania ”—a new exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City—takes readers on a ride through some of these responses, from an Andy Warhol silkscreen to Robert Frank photographs and a car hood painted by Judy Chicago.

As Lawrence Ulrich reports for the New York Times , the show takes its title from “ Automania 2000 ,” an Oscar-nominated 1963 short animated by married British artists Joy Batchelor and John Halas . In the film, which art enthusiasts can watch online , a consumer craze for automobiles leads scientists to develop “40-foot supercars” that house families consigned to eating petroleum-based foods and ceaselessly watching television. Eventually, the crush of vehicles clogs roads, and the cars themselves spin out of control.

The bulk of the exhibition takes place on MoMA’s third floor. But viewers can also wander downstairs to the outdoor sculpture garden and peer into the windows of several exceptional car designs. Per a statement , nine cars from the museum’s permanent collection are stationed throughout the show, including a famed mint-green “ Beetle ” and a rare Cisitalia 202 , a cherry-red 1946 racing car that owes it curved, seamless appearance to Italian workers who hammered its metal frame by hand.

Brett Berk of Vanity Fair notes that MoMA was among the first museums to treat cars as design objects, hosting the exhibition “ 8 Automobiles ” in 1951. In the show’s catalog , then-curator Arthur Drexler made the (intentionally) provocative claim that automobiles were a kind of “hollow, rolling sculpture,” according to the Times .

Some artists found themselves enamored with the form and power of these new machines. In Italian futurist Giacomo Balla’s Speeding Automobile (1912), shards of white, black, red and green seem to explode out of the canvas in an abstract composition evocative of the energy of a race car.

Other artists reckoned with cars’ deadly potential. Today, crash injuries are estimated to be the eighth leading cause of death for people of all ages around the world. Pop artist Andy Warhol probed the routine horror of fatal crashes and their coverage in the media in Orange Car Crash Fourteen Times (1963), which reproduced the same newspaper image of a deadly collision on an enormous 9- by 14-foot canvas, as Peter Saenger reports for the Wall Street Journal .

Beyond the immediate bodily harm posed by vehicles, artists have also reckoned with their vast environmental cost. In a series of photocollages from the late 1960s, Venezuelan architect Jorge Rigamonti captured the dystopian industrial landscape of his home country, which is one of the biggest exporters of oil in the world. Pollutants also appear in an 1898 lithograph by French post-Impressionist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, which shows a male motorist speeding ahead, spewing a cloud of thick smoke over a nearby woman and dog.

Visitors unable to explore the exhibition in person can listen to online audio tours adapted for both adults and children . In one recording, Chicago—the groundbreaking artist who created The Dinner Party (1979) and ushered in a new wave of American feminist art —explains that her work in the exhibition, Flight Hood , was inspired by her time as the only woman in a 250-person auto body school. In 2011, she painted this car hood with a “nascent butterfly” form that references her first husband, who died in an automobile crash.

Cars and car culture have long been tied to Western notions of manliness and rugged individuality . By using a piece of metal so often associated with masculinity as her canvas, Chicago subverted expectations.

“This work is based on a series of paintings that my painting instructors hated,” she recalls in the clip. “… I understood, intuitively, that this imagery that my male painting teachers had rejected because it was so female centered, that there was something subversive about mounting it on the most masculine of forms—a car hood.”

Lead curator Juliet Kinchin , who organized the exhibition with Paul Galloway and Andrew Gardner, also sought to emphasize women’s contributions to the male-dominated auto design industry. Relevant artifacts include textile artist Anni Albers’ upholstery materials and designer Lilly Reich’s 1930 sketches for a folding car seat .

“Women have actually been featured in these stories from the beginning,” Kinchin tells Vanity Fair . “That was something we wanted to tease out.”

All told, Galloway says that he hopes the exhibition pushes museumgoers to reconsider their relationships with their vehicles.

“This is absolutely a moment when we’re rethinking our history with things that we used to love and cherish,” he tells Vanity Fair , “and acknowledging that some of those things maybe were poisonous, or bad ideas, or death traps.”

“ Automania ” is on view at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City through January 2, 2022.

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Nora McGreevy | | READ MORE

Nora McGreevy is a former daily correspondent for Smithsonian . She is also a freelance journalist based in Chicago whose work has appeared in Wired , Washingtonian , the Boston Globe , South Bend Tribune , the New York Times and more.

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Electric Cars Are Better for the Planet – and Often Your Budget, Too

By Veronica Penney Jan. 15, 2021

Electric vehicles are better for the climate than gas-powered cars, but many Americans are still reluctant to buy them. One reason: The larger upfront cost.

New data published Thursday shows that despite the higher sticker price, electric cars may actually save drivers money in the long-run.

To reach this conclusion, a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology calculated both the carbon dioxide emissions and full lifetime cost — including purchase price, maintenance and fuel — for nearly every new car model on the market.

They found electric cars were easily more climate friendly than gas-burning ones. Over a lifetime, they were often cheaper, too.

Average carbon dioxide emissions per mile

Toyota Sequoia

Diesel cars

Traditional gas-powered cars span a range of prices and emissions.

Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles are about the same price as traditional cars, but cut emissions roughly in half.

Honda Civic

Higher emissions

Nissan Leaf

Electric cars have the lowest cost and emissions over time.

Higher cost

Average cost per month

Purchase price, maintenance, fuel

Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles

Electric cars have the lowest cost and emissions over time .

Climate scientists say vehicle electrification is one of the best ways to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, the transportation sector is the largest source of emissions, most of which come from cars and trucks .

Jessika Trancik, an associate professor of energy studies at M.I.T. who led the research, said she hoped the data would “help people learn about how those upfront costs are spread over the lifetime of the car.”

For electric cars, lower maintenance costs and the lower costs of charging compared with gasoline prices tend to offset the higher upfront price over time. (Battery-electric engines have fewer moving parts that can break compared with gas-powered engines and they don’t require oil changes. Electric vehicles also use regenerative braking, which reduces wear and tear.)

The cars are greener over time, too, despite the more emissions-intensive battery manufacturing process. Dr. Trancik estimates that an electric vehicle’s production emissions would be offset in anywhere from six to 18 months, depending on how clean the energy grid is where the car is charging.

The new data showed hybrid cars, which run on a combination of fuel and battery power, and can sometimes be plugged in, had more mixed results for both emissions and costs. Some hybrids were cheaper and spewed less planet-warming carbon dioxide than regular cars, but others were in the same emissions and cost range as gas-only vehicles.

Traditional gas-burning cars were usually the least climate friendly option, though long-term costs and emissions spanned a wide range. Compact cars were usually cheaper and more efficient, while gas-powered SUVs and luxury sedans landed on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Dr. Trancik’s team released the data in an interactive online tool to help people quantify the true costs of their car-buying decisions — both for the planet and their budget. The new estimates update a study published in 2016 and add to a growing body of research underscoring the potential lifetime savings of electric cars.

Comparing individual cars can be useful — and sometimes surprising .

Toyota RAV4 XLE

Retail: $27,450

Average carbon dioxide

emissions per mile

Nissan Altima

Retail: $26,800

The hybrid is cheaper and has lower emissions over time, despite the higher price tag.

Toyota RAV4 LE Hybrid

Retail: $28,500

The electric Tesla and gas- powered Nissan end up costing about the same over time.

Tesla Model 3

Retail: $37,990

The electric Tesla and gas- powered Nissan end up costing about the same.

Take the Tesla Model 3, the most popular electric car in the United States. The M.I.T. team estimated the lifetime cost of the most basic model as comparable to a Nissan Altima that sells for $11,000 less upfront. (That’s even though Tesla’s federal tax incentive for electric vehicles has ended.)

Toyota’s Hybrid RAV4 S.U.V. also ends up cheaper in the long run than a similar traditional RAV4, a national bestseller, despite a higher retail price.

The charts above use nationwide average prices for gasoline and electricity to estimate lifetime costs, but the results may shift depending on where potential buyers live. (The interactive tool allows users to input their local rates.)

Hawaii, Alaska and parts of New England have some of the highest average electricity costs , while parts of the Midwest, West and South tend to have lower rates. Gas prices are lower along the Gulf Coast and higher in California. But an analysis from the Union of Concerned Scientists still found that charging a vehicle was more cost effective than filling up at the pump across 50 major American cities. “We saw potential savings everywhere,” said David Reichmuth, a senior engineer for the group’s Clean Transportation Program.

Still, the upfront cost of an electric vehicle continues to be a barrier for many would-be owners.

The federal government offers a tax credit for some new electric vehicle purchases, but that does nothing to reduce the initial purchase price and does not apply to used cars. That means it disproportionately benefits wealthier Americans. Some states, like California, offer additional incentives. President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. has pledged to offer rebates that help consumers swap inefficient, old cars for cleaner new ones, and to create 500,000 more electric vehicle charging stations, too.

Chris Gearhart, director of the Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, said electric cars will become more price competitive in coming years as battery prices drop. At the same time, new technologies to reduce exhaust emissions are making traditional cars more expensive. “With that trajectory, you can imagine that even immediately at the purchase price level, certain smaller sedans could reach purchase price parity in the next couple of years,” Dr. Gearhart said.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Cars — The Impact of Driverless Cars on Society

The Impact of Driverless Cars on Society

Categories: Cars Driving

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Words: 979 |

Published: Nov 26, 2019

Words: 979 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Introduction, when we will use driverless cars, pros and cons of driverless cars.

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Ford perfected step-by-step assembly line production by using standardized, interchangeable parts. He then trained employees in only one or two steps so that each person could work as quickly and efficiently as possible. But then Ford took it one step further by using the first ever moving assembly line for large-scale manufacturing. It’s a production model that’s been adopted in countless other industries, allowing for mass production that cuts cost. Without the Model T, manufacturing may not be what it is today.

Cars Dramatically Changed the Economy

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Cars Enabled People to Travel and Relocate More Readily

The most obvious change for everyday people was that cars gave them a way to get around quickly. Suddenly, people had a new mode of transportation that could get them more places, which meant leisure travel became something common folk could afford.

Where people live has also been influenced by the automobile. Up until the early 1900s, few people lived more than a few miles from where they grew up. It was a matter of choice and logistics. Before cars were invented moving just a short distance away meant hours of buggy travel on rough roads. The rise of suburban areas also wouldn’t have been possible without the automobile. We also got traffic out of the deal

The trend to moving further away really took off after President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs created thousands of miles of roadway across the U.S. Once people could easily get from sea to shining sea more people started to relocate. Not surprisingly, the U.S. is now third in the world for the number of residents who move per year. As we’ve seen in recent years, many people are more than willing to pack up and relocate for work.

Death and Injury - The Downside to Driving

In life, you have to take the bad with the good. Cars have given people freedom, income and convenience, but vehicle accidents are also a leading cause of death. Across the globe 1.3 million people are killed in car accidents every year and another 20-50 million are injured. It's actually one of the reasons drivers education and traffic school were invented.

Unfortunately, young teen drivers are among the most likely to be involved in an accident that leads to death or injury. Got to buckle up!

The Politics of Driving

Because vehicle manufacturing is such a huge industry and affects safety, politics and government regulation are inescapable. Teen drivers know this all too well. Getting a driver’s license now requires a learner’s permit period, drivers ed courses and other stipulations along with the road rules everyone must follow. Did someone say drivers ed? Get your license on-the-go with Aceable.

But road regulations aren’t the only political consideration when it comes to cars. Plenty of economic decisions focus on automaking. One of the most notable political interventions in the auto industry was the bailout of 2009. The U.S. government decided to help several U.S. automakers stay financially stable through the recession, largely because they are American institutions that employ thousands of people.

Environmental Concerns and Further Invention

Environmentalists aren’t the biggest fans of most cars. Their beef isn’t with the cars themselves but the fuel that provides power and harmful byproducts. According to the EPA’s estimates, transportation (mostly passenger vehicles) is responsible for 27% of greenhouse gas emissions .

But environmental concerns have led to the creation of the latest car technology. The production of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) are steadily increasing by the day as demand for cleaner cars rises. This (and government regulations) has prompted car manufacturers to rethink engines, fueling systems and the overall design of vehicles.

Tesla is among the most prominent companies at the forefront of the clean car movement. The company has proven that all-electric vehicles can be powerful and stylish as well as energy efficient. Of course, Toyota and Leonardo DiCaprio also helped establish the hybrid industry with the Prius. Electric cars are a good alternative for enviromentalists

The Future of Vehicles and What It May Mean for American Society

Now that all-electric vehicles are old news, car engineers are turning their attention to new groundbreaking transportation technology. Industry insiders are extremely excited about the concept of driverless vehicles. Automated cars could save lives

Remember those death and injury stats you read a few minutes ago? Automakers are hoping that driverless vehicles will help alleviate the problem. Since virtually all accidents are due to driver error, the rational is computer systems will be able to make better, quicker decisions. There are already a number of driverless vehicles being tested, but only time will tell if backseat drivers will be the way of the future.

Need to get your license until self-driving cars are actually a reality? Check out Aceable get to get your license fast.

Krista Doyle

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Tips on how to write an essay on cars.
Examples and prompts for different types of essays.
Topics ideas for consideration and inspiration.

Our experts have tried to draw only the best advice for a car essay. Take a look at them, use them, and good luck!

⭐ Best Topics about Cars

🚘 Types of Car Essays

🏁 50 car topics to write about, 🚗 interesting car topics.

🚦 Argumentative Topics

🚚 Automotive Essay Topics

🛣️ Car-Related Topics
⚙️ Useful Tips

🔗 References

⭐ best topics about cars in 2024.

The future of electric and hybrid cars .
The impact of self-driving cars on employment.
Ferrari’s influence on exotic car culture and design.
Artificial intelligence in car design and engineering.
3D printing in automotive manufacturing .
Future trends in car-sharing and ride-hailing services .
Conserving classic cars for future generations.
The expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Electric trucks and commercial vehicles.
The art of car customization .
The impact of Tesla on the electric vehicle market .
The role of car manufacturers in promoting road safety .

There are several different types of essays. This section will talk more about what paper about cars you can write.

Descriptive essays . In such a paper you can describe your first car or the car of your dream. In descriptive essays on cars, you can give any details that you like. Still, you should try to mix them with purely technical characteristics.
Personal essays . Here you can tell about any experience of yours related to vehicles. For instance, speak about the first time you have driven a car or the first time you had an accident. In this kind of essay about cars, you have all the chances to show your creativity.
Compare and contrast essays. In such a paper, you might compare two types of cars. For instance, talk more about gas cars and electric cars. Write about which car is faster or more expensive.
Advantages and disadvantages essays. In this paper, talk about the pros and cons of cars. For example, you can mention the convenience of cars and how comfortable you feel in your vehicle compared to public transport. However, tell about an increased risk of getting into an accident. In this type of essay, back up your arguments with evidence.
Persuasive essays. Here you’ll need to take a position and persuade a reader to accept it, as well. For example, you might write about the harmful effect of cars on the environment. Therefore, more and more people must start using public transport.

After reading our tips, you may still be unsure about what exactly to write your essay about. Well, don’t worry. Here we have provided car essay topics that will help you get started or give you enough inspiration to write.

How will cars look in the future? Write an essay about cars in the future. Mention whether everyone will have cars, how the cars will look, how much will they cost. Will there be flying cars? You have room for imagination.
Reasons why car accidents happen. Mention all the common reasons for car accidents to occur. If possible, give examples of accidents that occurred due to those reasons.
Car or public transport : an ongoing debate. Write a persuasive essay about what is better to use: car or public transport. Mention the convenience and the environmental effect of both types of transportation.
Self-driving cars: has the future already come? In this essay, explain the concept of self-driving cars. Mention the role of Tesla in the construction of self-driving cars.
The story of my first car . Write a personal narrative essay about the first car you ever had. Share the story of getting the vehicle and the emotions you’ve experienced. Provide additional details.
My dream car . Let your imagination run free. Give any details you’d like. Still, don’t go overboard!
The pros and cons of driverless cars . What are the benefits and downfalls of using driverless vehicles? Research the topic and write the essay.
An analysis of the automotive industry. nalyze the importance of the automotive industry. Additionally, mention its issues.
Electric vehicles : their effect on the environment and society. Write about the pros and cons of electric transportation. Focus more on the electric vehicles’ influence on ecology.
The impact of automobile use on pollution . Write about the kinds of pollution vehicle use might cause. Do all vehicles have the same influence on the environment?
My favorite toy. In case your beloved toy in childhood was any type of vehicle, share your story. Write about how you got it and what emotions you experienced. Do you still have that toy?
Why should you use automobiles ? Write a persuasive essay on the advantages of cars and why people should use them.
Car safety: what you shouldn’t do while driving. Write about activities that are not encouraged to do while at the wheel (eating, texting, talking on the phone). Mention how those actions are related to car accidents.
The controversial issue of flying cars.
Difference between hybrid cars and traditional cars.
Analyze the dangers of distracted driving.
Explain why regular changing of the oil in your car is crucial for safe driving.
Examine the dangerous habits of drivers and explain how to overcome them.
What should you do to avoid motor vehicle accidents?
Compare electric and gasoline-powered cars and explain which are better in your opinion.
Benefits of Honda Pilot car.
Describe the shortcomings of autonomous vehicles .
Are speed limits important for safe driving?
Analyze the necessity of buying energy efficient cars .
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid vehicles .
Explore the evolution of automobile industry in the US, its opportunities and challenges.
How to change the oil in your car .
Explain why lack of parking in big cities is one of the most urgent problems for car owners.
Can we call electric cars the future of automobile industry?
Analyze the market demand for alternative vehicles.
Describe the specifics of electric vehicles manufacturing in the UK.
Compare gasoline and electric cars .
How to wash car like a pro .
What are the drawbacks of electric cars?
Examine the peculiarities of different trucks.
Is it possible to survive without a car in the modern world?
Analyze the difficulties and expenses connected with owning a private car .
Does the concept of automated cars have future?
Discuss if switching to electric cars will help to reduce the environmental problems.
Explore the impact car emission has on global warming and suggest the ways to reduce it.
Describe the environmentally friendly cars and why they are important.
Discuss the peculiarities of the fuel cell vehicles.
Examine the ways cars are presented in popular culture .
Explain why people choose to buy luxury cars .
Analyze how automobiles influenced the transformation of American culture.
What are the reasons of American car industry success?
Describe the specifics of Volkswagen cars .
Disadvantages of cars .
Do you think using cellphones while driving should be banned?
Examine the impact human factor has on automobile industry development.
The legacy of the Nissan GT-R from the Fast and Furious franchise.
Study the representation of automobiles in modern art.
The evolution of Lamborghini from tractors to supercars.
The iconic status of the DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future .
What are the causes and consequences of aggressive driving behavior ?
The Ectomobile as a symbol of cultural iconography in the Ghostbusters franchise.
The timeless appeal of James Bond’s Aston Martin .
How our choice of vehicle reflects who we are.
An analysis of the emotional connection between humans and cars.
How do aesthetics and functionality shape our perception of automobiles ?
The role of cars as extensions of characters’ identity in Mad Max: Fury Road .
The evolution of the Batmobile in the Batman franchise.
Study the therapeutic benefits of driving for mental health.
What are the stereotypes and realities of men and women drivers?
The significance of automobiles in coming-of-age literature.
Research the psychological effects of fast driving and adrenaline rush.
The influence of advertising on car purchases.
Pixar’s Cars and the representation of American car culture.
Trace the evolution of car chases from classic Hollywood to modern blockbusters.
The shift in attitudes toward car ownership in large cities.

🚦 Argumentative Essay Topics about Cars

Will electric cars fully replace traditional combustion engine vehicles ?
Should stricter regulations be enforced on car manufacturers ?
Does owning a vehicle provide a sense of independence?
Which brand offers the best value for money, BMW or Mercedes-Benz?
Should governments provide more incentives for the adoption of electric vehicles?
Are autonomous vehicles truly safer than human drivers?
Are luxury car brands overpriced, or do they offer superior quality and features?
Classic cars: a good investment or overvalued collectibles?
Are electric cars more affordable than traditional vehicles in the long term?
Will alternative modes of travel replace cars in the coming decades?
Should vintage vehicles be preserved for future generations?
Which iconic muscle car reigns supreme, the Dodge Challenger or Ford Mustang?
Do vehicle choices reflect personal values and beliefs?
Are vehicles a financial burden or investment for individuals and families?
Does traffic congestion influence drivers’ mental health?
Are higher speeds on highways safer or more dangerous for drivers?
Do luxury vehicles symbolize success or excessive consumption ?
Will car-sharing services replace traditional ownership models?
Will Uber lead to a decline in personal vehicle ownership?
Who is responsible in the event of an accident – the driver or the manufacturer?
The electric vehicles’ impact on the automotive industry.
Green initiatives and practices in the automotive industry .
The role of artificial intelligence in car manufacturing and design.
Diversity and inclusion in the automotive workforce.
The impact of trade wars and tariffs on the global automotive market .
Opportunities for growth in emerging markets for automotive sales .
The role of big data and analytics in improving vehicle performance and customer experience.
Consumer trust issues in autonomous vehicles.
The influence of consumer preferences on car design and features.
Opportunities for collaboration between automakers and tech companies.
The rise of subscription-based models for car ownership and leasing.
Challenges in recruiting and retaining skilled labor in the automotive industry.
The impact of COVID-19 on the automotive supply chain and production.
Sustainability and the use of recyclable materials in automotive design .
How government regulations are shaping the future of the automotive industry.
The potential of 3D printing in automotive manufacturing and prototyping.
Assess the benefits of using virtual showrooms in automotive retail.
Challenges in implementing sustainable practices in dealerships and service centers.
The role of design thinking in creating user-centric automotive experiences.
How autonomous vehicles are transforming public transportation systems.

🛣️ Car Related Topics

The hidden stories behind famous car logos and emblems.
Explain the phenomenon of car brand loyalty and why people stick with a particular brand.
What’s psychology of road rage and aggressive driving ?
The influence of personal memories on emotional connections to vehicles.
Study the iconic status of the Le Mans 24-hour race.
How influence of technology innovations on Formula 1 .
Explore the cultural significance of cars in American society.
The design and engineering process behind creating a concept car.
The evolution of taxi services from horse-drawn carriages to app-based platforms.
Are microcars a viable solution for congested cities?
The influence of car culture on music, fashion, and lifestyle trends.
Study the psychological and cultural implications of car color choices.
Are flying cars a realistic vision or science fiction?
The history of women in the automotive industry .
Unconventional uses of vehicles in art installations and performances.
The role of historic car restoration in preserving cultural heritage.
The influence of drive-in restaurants on contemporary dining habits.
The role of cars in shaping cultural identities and national pride.
How do road trips impact mental health and well-being?
Car rituals and traditions around the world.

⚙️ College Essay about Cars: Useful Tips

Preparing for composting an essay about a car, you may wonder where to start and how to handle it. In this section, we will introduce some helpful tips. See what you should include and elaborate on in your car essay.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

Get creative. Some students may think that essays on cars are not the right place for creativity. Writing about cars should be full of some specific terms and descriptions of various car details. However, it is a mistake. Essays on cars can omit such issues but remain informative and catchy.
Keep your opinion to yourself. You don’t have to present a positive or negative conclusion about cars. You are not required to have an unequivocal statement when you write about such a difficult topic. In order to fulfill this requirement, you can even use a thesis statement creator to come up with unbiased foundation for your content.
Don’t try to say everything at once . Your essay has a word limit, so you’re better to find one topic to talk about. Focus on one aspect of the issue, such as environmental impact, and state your position with evidence.
Change an angle. If you are not interested in a topic but need to write about cars, look at the subject from the other side. If you are not willing to elaborate on ecological impact, write about races. If you don’t want to talk about sports, write about the invention of the first car. The subject is extensive, so everyone will find something of their own, especially if you were not given a topic in advance.

Thus, writing essays about cars can also be exciting. If you think for a while, you will find ways of writing your paper creatively.

Thank you for reading this article! We hope that you found it useful. If that is the case, don’t forget to share it with your friends and comment.

Essay on Car

Students are often asked to write an essay on Car in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Car

The importance of cars.

Cars are a crucial part of our daily life. They help us travel long distances quickly and comfortably. Without cars, it would be tough to commute to school, work, or other places.

Parts of a Car

A car is made up of many parts, like the engine, wheels, and seats. The engine provides power, the wheels help it move, and the seats offer comfort.

Types of Cars

There are different types of cars such as sedans, SUVs, and sports cars. Each type serves a different purpose and is designed to meet specific needs.

Cars are equipped with safety features like seat belts and airbags to protect passengers during accidents. It’s essential to always use these for safety.

Also check:

10 Lines on Car
Advantages and Disadvantages of Car
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250 Words Essay on Car

Introduction.

Cars, an integral part of modern life, have evolved significantly since their invention in the late 19th century. They are not just a mode of transportation but also a symbol of technological advancement and societal status.

Historical Evolution

The journey of cars began with the invention of a steam-powered vehicle by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot in 1769. However, it was Karl Benz’s petrol-powered car in 1885 that laid the foundation for modern automobiles. The introduction of assembly lines by Henry Ford revolutionized car production, making them more affordable and accessible.

Technological Advancements

The 21st century has ushered in a new era of technological advancements in cars. Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity due to their eco-friendly nature. Autonomous driving technology, powered by artificial intelligence, is also on the horizon, promising a future of self-driving cars.

Societal Impact

Cars have significantly impacted society. They have reshaped urban landscapes, influenced economic structures, and even defined cultural identities. However, they also contribute to environmental degradation and traffic congestion.

Future Prospects

The future of cars lies in sustainability and smart technology. With rising environmental concerns, the demand for fuel-efficient and zero-emission vehicles is increasing. Simultaneously, advancements in AI and machine learning are paving the way for autonomous vehicles.

Cars, a testament to human ingenuity, have come a long way from steam-powered engines to autonomous electric vehicles. As we move forward, the focus will be on creating sustainable, efficient, and intelligent vehicles, further transforming our lives.

500 Words Essay on Car

Cars, the epitome of human ingenuity, have revolutionized the way we travel. They embody the intersection of design, technology, and functionality, providing a tangible measure of societal progress. This essay explores the evolution of cars, their impact on society, and the future of automotive technology.

Evolution of Cars

The first automobile, powered by an internal combustion engine, was invented by Karl Benz in 1885. This marked a significant turning point in human history. Over the years, cars have evolved from basic transportation devices to complex machines embodying luxury, speed, and comfort. Technological advancements have led to improvements in fuel efficiency, power, safety features, and aesthetic appeal.

Impact on Society

Cars have had profound societal impacts. They have reshaped urban landscapes, influencing city planning and infrastructure development. The advent of cars led to the creation of highways, bridges, and tunnels, transforming the way we perceive distance and time.

Cars have also had a significant influence on the economy. The automotive industry is a vital economic sector, providing millions of jobs worldwide. It has spurred growth in ancillary industries such as oil, steel, rubber, and glass.

However, cars also have a downside. They are major contributors to environmental pollution, emitting greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Traffic congestion and road accidents are other negative externalities associated with cars.

The Future of Cars

The future of cars is exciting and promising. Technological advancements are paving the way for electric cars and autonomous vehicles. Electric cars, powered by rechargeable batteries instead of gasoline, offer a sustainable alternative to traditional vehicles. They are eco-friendly, reducing our carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuels.

Autonomous vehicles, or self-driving cars, are another groundbreaking innovation. They use artificial intelligence, sensors, and algorithms to navigate without human intervention. This could potentially revolutionize transportation, improving road safety and reducing traffic congestion.

However, these technological advancements also pose challenges. Electric cars require extensive charging infrastructure, and their batteries pose disposal issues. Autonomous vehicles raise ethical and legal questions, such as who is responsible in case of an accident.

Cars are more than just a mode of transportation; they are a testament to human innovation and creativity. While they have reshaped society and the economy, they also pose challenges that need to be addressed. The future of cars lies in sustainable and intelligent technology, but it is equally important to navigate the associated challenges responsibly. As we stand on the brink of a new era in automotive technology, the car continues to be a symbol of progress, embodying the potential of human ingenuity.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Making Ever-better Cars: A Progress Report

"Sudden and drastic changes in the business environment mean that conventional ways of thinking and doing business can no longer help us grow sustainably. We are at a crossroads where we must now build a new business model."

Toyota City, Japan, March 26, 2015―In the four years since announcing its new Global Vision, Toyota has made significant progress toward achieving sustainable growth by making ever-better cars. This has required a new approach to manufacturing automobiles, with the core aims being greatly improved product development and more competitive production sites. This work is based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) and is supported by the cultivation of a skilled and capable workforce.

Commenting on progress made so far, Toyota President Akio Toyoda said: "I want 2015 to be a year in which we take steady and bold steps toward sustainable growth. We can do this by launching new models that incorporate TNGA, and making good use of this intentional pause to strengthen our competitiveness. Based on the new management structure we announced this month, it is important that we improve our true competitiveness, including strengthening our human resources. We aim to be a company that grows sustainably―a tree with a strong trunk."

Making better cars through TNGA

To greatly improve core vehicle performance and product appeal, Toyota is implementing an innovative, integrated development approach for powertrain components and vehicle platforms. Development of vehicles is also being grouped to promote strategic sharing of parts and powertrain components with the goal of reducing resources required for development by 20 percent or more. And by working even closer with suppliers, Toyota intends to further reduce costs and reinvest the resulting resources into developing advanced technologies and strengthening product appeal.

Powertrain components are at the heart of all vehicles. Their development needs to be coordinated with that of vehicle platforms, which form the basic structure of all vehicles. To enhance driving performance and fuel efficiency while also giving vehicles more attractive styling and improved handling, Toyota is focusing on joint development of powertrains and platforms together to create a lower center of gravity, on making components lighter and more compact, and on applying unified design through modularization. By improving thermal efficiency in engines and energy-relay efficiency in transmissions, Toyota has increased the overall fuel efficiency of its powertrains by approximately 25 percent and overall power output by more than 15 percent. Also, by rethinking drive unit layout and making electric motors, inverters and batteries smaller, Toyota expects to improve the overall fuel efficiency of its hybrid vehicle systems by more than 15 percent. Toyota will begin introducing its new powertrain units this year, and will continue to develop innovative new hybrid systems, transmissions and engines.

Toyota has developed new platforms through innovative improvements to its vehicle underbodies and suspensions. Additionally, repositioning and lowering the center of gravity of powertrain components has contributed to achieving attractive, low-stance designs, responsive handling, a high-quality drive feel, and collision performance that offers safety and peace of mind. By rethinking body structure, Toyota plans to first increase overall body rigidity by as much as 30 to 65 percent, and then further improve rigidity by joining body components using laser screw welding technology. Toyota will begin rolling out its new platforms with the launch of a midsize front-wheel-drive vehicle this year, followed by specific new platforms for front-wheel-drive compact and large vehicles, as well as for rear-wheel-drive vehicles. Toyota expects approximately half of its vehicles sold worldwide in 2020 to feature the new platforms.

Improving Toyota's production systems

After deciding to take an intentional pause to strengthen its competitiveness, Toyota froze new production plant projects and has been working to achieve full use of existing plants and facilities, and to reduce the amount of capital investment required at plants when new vehicle models are launched. Toyota is also working to make plants more competitive by greatly reducing required levels of initial investment and further strengthening environmental performance and safety.

To increase product appeal, Toyota is developing production technologies that will make it easier than ever to turn new designs and features into reality. Toyota is also doing more to cultivate its human resources ahead of entering a new stage of sustainable growth.

Since 2013, Toyota has been increasing the versatility of its production lines, linking production of same-model vehicles across multiple plants and steadily increasing operational availability to make thorough use of even the smallest capacity surpluses at each plant. Toyota has subsequently increased its total global load factor (line utilization rate) to more than 90 percent from approximately 70 percent in 2009.

This year, Toyota is aiming to reduce the amount of capital investment required to prepare a production line for a new model by approximately 50 percent compared to 2008 levels. This work also covers the production of new engines, transmissions and related components.

Although rolling out new TNGA platforms and powertrain components will temporarily require increased production line investment, investment requirements are still expected to result in lower investment levels than those required in 2008. And, because TNGA's strategic sharing of parts and components allows multiple platforms and powertrain components to be added to a line for mixed production, Toyota will be able to respond flexibly to changes in demand and achieve significant reductions in overall production line investment.

Toyota is combining the results of its work to increase plant competitiveness with the mindset and technologies accumulated by making ever-better cars in the field of production engineering. Toyota aims to break the mold by creating production sites that are competitive and built for sustainable growth.

Toyota is now approaching the point at which it can expect to reduce initial plant investment by approximately 40 percent compared to 2008 levels. The main contributors include measures to achieve "simple and slim" production lines, such as downsizing painting-booth facilities and switching to compact equipment that can be installed on top of plant floors. By contrast, current plants often require large equipment that needs to be suspended from ceilings or fixed into the plant floor. This reduction in required investment frees up resources.

Also, by making plants more environment friendly through improved energy management, Toyota expects to reduce plant CO 2 output by up to 55 percent.

Through these combined projects, Toyota aims to shift to plants that are always competitive, rather than plants that depend on volume.

Toyota is using the resources gained through its investment-reduction initiatives to further improve product appeal in the field of production engineering. Production engineering initiatives, with new technologies already finding their way onto a number of mass-production vehicle models, include revolutionizing forming technologies to allow the production of highly stylish components and developing more-advanced welding technologies for greater body rigidity.

Ever-better Cars Media Event

On March 26, Toyota shared the latest news on ever-better cars and the Toyota New Global Architecture at a briefing for international media. The event, which took place in Toyota City, Japan, consisted of a number of presentations by senior Toyota figures as well as demonstrations of actual production technologies in a Toyota plant. Some of the materials shown to attendees have been made available below.

Presentation Given by Executive Vice President Mitsuhisa Kato

How Toyota's new automatic transmissions improve driving

Presentation Given by Senior Managing Officer Hirofumi Muta

Downloads (Images)

What the car industry has done to help fight climate change – and what it needs to do next

A electric charging port is seen attached to a 2018 Karma Revero, a plug-in hybrid vehicle, at the Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Mark Blinch - RC18293DF3F0

Many car manufacturers have made bold commitments to reduce carbon emissions. Image: REUTERS/Mark Blinch

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Last week, an estimated 1.5 million students from more than 100 countries walked out of schools and into the streets to protest the lack of climate action being taken by their leaders.

The efforts of these students are mirrored by growing public concern over the state of the climate and our planet’s future. In a recent survey , over 69% of Americans said they were “somewhat concerned” over climate change, with 29% saying they were “very worried”. These are the highest levels of concern measured by the poll since it began in 2008.

Increasing climate concern is matched by increasing pressure on carbon emitters to change the way they do business. The transport sector accounts for 24% of CO2 emissions globally. Transport is the largest CO2 emitter in the US, accounting for 28% of emissions , though the energy sector is not far behind.

Early green initiatives by the automotive industry, such as " clean diesel " cars, proved to be misleading. But despite past shortcomings, car-makers have recently made dramatic changes to their operations in pursuit of sustainability. Many manufacturers have made bold commitments to reduce carbon emissions, while also expanding the scope and style of their electric vehicles (EVs).

Porsche has committed to electrifying over half its cars by 2025. Volkswagen has announced plans to reduce the average emissions of its new vehicles by 30% by 2025, and is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Car-makers have also undertaken more technical, but equally dramatic, changes. For over a century, nearly all vehicles have been driven by the same combination of an internal combustion engine mated to a mechanical transmission. But electric vehicles are based on a fundamentally different platform, consisting of a large battery and electric motors driving the wheels. This transformation of the basic powertrain in the car requires huge operational shifts. And many car-makers are making this transformation in just one product generation.

There are presently very few electric cars on the road. Less than 2% of cars in the US are electric. EV rates are similar throughout Europe, and other regions come in even lower. The few countries with higher EV rates, such as Norway, have relied on large government incentives to boost sales.

Many experts believe low demand to be a key factor inhibiting the transition to EVs. “The incentives you have to put on electric vehicles to move them pose a real commercial challenge”, says Eric Jillard, Head of the Automotive Industry at the World Economic Forum. Focusing on the following three areas could help drive demand for EVs, Jillard believes.

More chargers

Despite climate concerns, many consumers are still very apprehensive when it comes to purchasing a car they have to charge. When the UK surveyed drivers in 2016, 45% of respondents said the availability of chargers was a reason to not buy an electric car. Only 28% said it was the cost of EVs that was prohibitive.

The lack of chargers can seem a difficult problem to address, according to Jillard. “It creates a chicken and egg scenario. There are not enough people willing to buy electric cars because there are not enough chargers - and who’s going to provide chargers if not enough people are buying electric cars?”

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Electrify fleets

Focusing on making high-use vehicles fully electric, such as fleets of taxis, delivery vehicles and mail trucks, is a possible solution. The rationale is simple: if the most-used vehicles are electric, proper charging infrastructure must follow.

“Even in a smaller town, this could be a solution”, says Jillard. “If my mail fleet is all electric, then I need electric chargers near the post office, and everyone will know where to go if you need a charger.”

Stabilize the power grid

Unfortunately, installing more chargers will not drive demand alone. Energy grid stability is another concern with increasing numbers of EVs. Once 15% of cars on the road are electric, power grids will be hurt. To accelerate the use of EVs, utilities must change the way they deliver power to their customers.

“There’s a lot of work that can be done to ratchet up infrastructure and grid stability, which can then drive demand”, says Jillard. “These three factors together can bring about the change we’re looking for.”

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Electric Cars: Advantages and Concerns Essay

An electric car is a general term that is used to refer to all varieties of highway-capable automobiles, which are propelled by electricity. The source of electricity can either be on-board rechargeable batteries or other electric energy generating and storage device. An electric car that is powered by on-board solar panels is specifically referred to as a solar car. While the one that derives its electricity from a gasoline generator is called a hybrid car. Similarly, cars that derive power from the on-board battery pack are more specifically referred to as battery electric cars/vehicles (BEC/V). In the recent past, the term electric vehicle has been used specifically to refer to lithium-ion battery-powered plugin electric cars.

Most commercial electric cars are fitted with one or more low power electric motors capable of providing instant torque for better performance. These cars also have a much better acceleration as compared to the conventional gasoline engine cars. Electric cars are also significantly quieter and are environmentally friendly since they don’t emit any tailpipe pollutants, as is the case for gasoline cars. These cars are thus considered the future solution to the problems of air pollution and greenhouse gases. Electric-powered vehicles also provide independence from the volatility of oil prices and the occasional gasoline price fluctuations, which occurs as a result of a disruption in the supply of oil from producing countries (Gabe 71).

In terms of energy efficiency, electric vehicles are more efficient than gasoline-powered cars in converting the stored energy to propel the car. Gasoline-powered cars are relatively inefficient at converting on-board-energy and only utilize about 15% of fuel energy to move the car. In addition to their strength in energy efficiency, electric-powered vehicles do not consume energy when not in motion. Most electric cars are also fitted with a regenerative braking system that recaptures for reuse as much as one-fifth of the energy that is used during braking (Kane 52).

However, electric cars have many hurdles to overcome if they are to compete effectively with the internal combustion engine cars. In terms of price, electric cars are astronomically expensive compared to internal combustion engine cars. Batteries alone cost a fortune, and yet their range is limited. Energy experts agree that for electric cars to be economically viable, battery manufacturers must find a way of building units that can last 15 years, improve their storage capacity, and cut the costs by about a factor of four.

No such game-changing breakthroughs have been achieved so far by any of the electric vehicle manufacturers despite huge financial support from the government (Chao 56). The units being sold by Nissan, General Motors, Tesla, and Fisker remain disproportionately expensive. General Motors’ hybrid electric Chevy Volt, for example, is sold for a staggering $40,000. Nissan Leaf retails at $30,000, yet it is less capable than most car models that are powered by gasoline.

The continuous decline of global oil prices and the subsidization of fossil fuels through tax breaks is another stumbling block that is hindering the widespread adoption of electric cars. Huge government financial assistance and tax waivers are provided to oil exploration and refining companies. This makes gasoline to be relatively economical to use for car owners. And as long as tailpipe emissions have no priced harm, few buyers will be willing to spend a dime on transitioning to electric cars. A survey conducted in 2010 shows that although more than three-quarters of Americans were willing to buy electric cars for the sake of the environment, none was ready to pay more to own the cars (Michael 64).

The cost of maintenance of electric cars is another factor hindering mass transition from internal combustion engine cars. True, electric vehicles have fewer mechanical moving parts to break and therefore require less servicing. However, these cars are incredibly complex machines that require regular maintenance and expensive replacements. Battery charging infrastructure and charging time is another major shortcoming for electric cars. The batteries must be recharged periodically, with each recharging taking several hours. Although fast charging is available as an option, it usually takes at least 30 minutes, which is still a lot of time compared to the time it takes to refill a fuel tank.

There are also serious concerns over safety issues and the risk of fire associated with the use of lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are highly vulnerable and are easily prone to thermal runaway if they are overcharged (Jim 40). The batteries can also rapture and in extreme cases, even explode when overheated. In fact, several fire incidents involving electric cars have been reported since the start of commercial production of plugin electric cars in 2008. Incidentally, most of these high-level fire accidents are almost entirely related to thermal runaway of lithium-ion battery packs.

Clearly, the future of electric cars doesn’t look promising, considering that the government’s financial support and funding are unlikely to increase. Things are also likely to get tougher for traditional electric car companies following the introduction of Google’s hugely successful self-driving cars (Smith 79). Google’s vehicles are expected to be more affordable and will liberate the cars from its driver. But as the experts have observed, the improvement of the battery performance range, charging time, and storage capacity will be the key to unlocking the full benefits and economic viability of electric cars.

Works Cited

Chao, Philippe. Electric Car Industry in the Slow Lane. New York: McGraw-Hill Press Publishers, 2010. Print.

Gabe, Muler . Energy Efficiency of Electric Cars. London: Foundation Press Publishers, 2011. Print.

Jim, Witkin . Building Better Batteries for Electric Cars. New York: Witkin Press Publishers, 2013. Print.

Kane, Laurent . Understanding the Electric Vehicle Landscape. Washington: McMillan press Publishers, 2013. Print.

Michael, Westbrook . The Electric and Hybrid Electric car. London: Mechanical Engineers Press Publishers, 2013. Print.

Smith, David. Electric Cars: The Sound of Silence. San Francisco: Auto-Mobile Discovery Publishers, 2012. Print.

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