Steam Automobile
Steam Automobile
an automobile powered by steam. The first automobiles were steam-powered. Beginning in the late 1700’s, some attempts were made to design a satisfactory steam automobile; the automobile was kept from widespread use, however, by the unwieldiness and weight of the steam power plant and difficulties connected with the power plant’s operation. New attempts have been made in the mid-20th century to design an efficient steam automobile because of the automobile’s advantages: high specific capacity of the engine, high torque, low noise, long engine life, inexpensive fuel, and low content of harmful substances in combustion products.