The Future of Cars: Model 3 or Model T?
(Note: all the sources
listed in the “Balanced” section)
The Machine That
Changed the World. In July of 1894, the city of Paris hosted what must have been for its time one of the most peculiar events ever to take place: a race of “horseless carriages”. Entrants included vehicles powered by steam, petrol, compressed air, hydraulics, and electricity. The event attracted massive crowds, who lined the 78-mile course from Paris to Rouen. Out of the 102 entrants, only 21 qualified for the race and even fewer finished. Nevertheless, onlookers were rewarded with the opportunity to witness a proud moment for the machine that would change everything. The carriage powered by the internal combustion engine won this race and was chosen to be the machine to replace horses as the propulsion of the future. The petroleum-powered automobile became a foundational pillar for the social and economic infrastructure of the twentieth century. Meanwhile, the electric carriage never even made it to the starting line. However, since that summer over a century ago advances in battery technology have finally made the electric motor a viable alternative. In recent years we’ve seen a big push for electric cars, but the impact of electric cars will have on our lives has yet to be determined. 1