Carsarepartofdailylife.Carstakepeopletowork.Carstakechildrentoschool.Carstakefamiliesontrips.Theworldmovesbecauseofcars.Thiswritingtalksaboutcars.Ittalksabouttheirhistory.Ittalksabouthowtheywork.Ittalksabouttheirgoodpoints.Ittalksabouttheirproblems.Ittalksabouttheirfuture.

Carsareanewidea.Theyareaboutonehundredyearsold.Beforecars,peopleusedhorses.Horseswereslow.Horsesneededrest.Thentheenginewasinvented.Thefirstengineswerebig.Theywereweak.KarlBenzmadethefirstrealcar.Ithadthreewheels.Itusedgasoline.Manypeoplecopiedhisidea.HenryFordchangedeverything.Hemadecarsonanassemblyline.Oneworkerdidonejob.Thenextworkerdidthenextjob.Thismadecarsfast.Thismadecarscheap.Manypeoplecouldbuyacar.Lifebecamedifferent.Citiesgrewbigger.Peoplecouldlivefarfromwork.

Acarhasmanyparts.Themainpartistheengine.Theengineburnsfuel.Fuelisusuallygasoline.Theburningmakespower.Thepowermovesthepistons.Thepistonsturnthecrankshaft.Thecrankshaftturnsthewheels.Thewheelsmakethecargo.Thecarneedsatransmission.Thetransmissionchangesspeed.Itmakesthecargofastorslow.Thecarneedsasteeringwheel.Thesteeringwheelturnsthefrontwheels.Thedrivercontrolsthesteeringwheel.Thecarhasbrakes.Brakesusefriction.Frictionslowsthewheels.Thecarstops.Thecarhasabody.Thebodyholdsthepeople.Thebodykeepsthemsafefromweather.Thebodyhasseats.Theseatsmaketheridecomfortable.

Carsareveryuseful.Theygivefreedom.Apersoncangoanywhere.Theycangoanytime.Noneedtowaitforabus.Noneedtofollowatrainschedule.Carshelpinemergencies.Asickpersongoestothehospitalfast.Carshelptheeconomy.Theycreatejobs.Peopleworkinfactories.Peopleworkinrepairshops.Peoplesellgasoline.Peoplebuildroads.Carsmakemovingthingseasy.Trucksarebigcars.Trucksbringfoodtostores.Trucksbringgoodstohomes.Lifewithoutcarsseemshardnow.

Carscauseproblemstoo.Theycauseairpollution.Enginesburnfuel.Burningmakesdirtyair.Dirtyairmakespeoplesick.Dirtyairhurtsplantsandanimals.Carscausenoisepollution.Enginesareloud.Hornsareloud.Trafficisloud.Loudnoiseisbadforears.Loudnoisecausesstress.Carsneedroads.Roadscovertheland.Animalslosetheirhomes.Carsuseoil.Oilcomesfromtheground.Takingoilhurtstheland.Oilcanspill.Spillskilloceanlife.Carscauseaccidents.Accidentshurtpeople.Accidentskillpeople.Drivingneedscare.Somedriversarenotcareful.

Thefutureofcarsischanging.Electriccarsarenew.Electriccarsusebatteries.Batteriespoweranelectricmotor.Electricmotorsarequiet.Electricmotorsdonotburnfuel.Theydonotmakedirtyair.Butbatterieshaveproblems.Makingbatteriescanbedirty.Chargingbatteriesneedselectricity.Thatelectricitymightcomefromburningcoal.Thisisstillaproblem.Self-drivingcarsarecoming.Computerscontrolthecar.Thecarseestheroadwithcameras.Thecarfollowsthemap.Peoplethinkself-drivingcarswillbesafer.Computersdonotgettired.Computersdonotgetdrunk.Butthetechnologyisnew.Itneedstesting.Sharingcarsisanewidea.Manypeopleuseonecar.Anappcallsthecar.Thecardrivestoyou.Youpayforthetrip.Youdonotownthecar.Thismeansfewercarsontheroad.Thismeanslessneedforparking.

Carschangesociety.Suburbsexistbecauseofcars.Peopleliveoutsidecities.Theydrivetothecityforwork.Shoppingmallsexistbecauseofcars.Peopledrivetobigstores.Storeshavebigparkinglots.Drive-inmovieswerepopular.Peoplewatchedmoviesfromtheircars.Fastfoodbecamepopular.Peoplegetfoodwithoutleavingthecar.Carsshapeourworld.Theyshapewherewelive.Theyshapehowweshop.Theyshapehowwehavefun.

Carsareatool.Likeanytool,theycanbeusedwell.Theycanbeusedpoorly.Theyhelpus.Theyalsoharmus.Thechallengeisclear.Wemustkeepthegoodthings.Wemustfixthebadthings.Weneedcleanercars.Weneedsafercars.Weneedsmarterwaystousecars.Thecar’sstoryisnotfinished.Newideaswillcome.Thebasicneedwillstay.Peopleneedtomove.Peopleneedtoconnect.Thecarservesthisneed.Itwillkeepserving.Itsformwillchange.Itspurposewillremain.