Gasoline

Gasoline, or petrol, has powered vehicles all throughout history. While gasoline has had a profound effect on our society, it has also helped us move more quickly between two points. Today however, hybrids are becoming more and more popular, as well as the introduction of ethanol into gasoline to make it more environmentally friendly. But how did gasoline become the fuel of choice for vehicles?

- Jose Alvarez

Automotive combustion engines called Otto engines (named after German engineer Nikolaus Otto) were developed in the late 19th century in Germany, and were the first internal combustion engines that ran on petroleum gas.

Otto tried to improve on the design of the Lenoir engine, which only produced a mere 2 horsepower output. The Otto engine managed to improve this efficiency to 3 horsepower and was exhibited at the 1867 World Fair; this was discontinued in 1882.