Classification of automobiles

Automobiles can be classified into several types based on several

criteria. A brief classification of automobiles is listed below:

1. Based on purpose:
1.

Passenger vehicles These automobiles carry passengers e.g:

Buses, Passenger trains, cars

2.

Goods vehicles These vehicles are used for transportation of

goods from one place to another. e.g: Goods lorry, goods carrier

2. Based on capacity:
1.

Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) Large and bulky motor vehicles

e.g: Large trucks, buses

2.

Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) Small motor vehicles e.g: Cars,

Jeeps

3.

Medium Vehicle Relatively medium sized vehicles e.g: Small

trucks, mini buses

3. Based on fuel source:

1.

Petrol engine vehicles Automobiles powered by petrol engine

e.g: scooters, cars, mopeds, motorcycles

2.

Diesel engine vehicles Automotives powered by diesel engine

e.g: Trucks, Buses

3.

Gas vehicles Vehicles that use gas turbine as power source e.g:
Turbine powered cars

4.

Solar vehicles Vehicles significantly powered by solar power

e.g: Solar powered cars

5.

Hydrogen vehicles Vehicles that have hydrogen as a power

source e.g: Honda FCX Clarity

6.

Electric vehicles Automobiles that use electricity as a power

source e.g: Electric cars, electric buses

7.

Steam Engine Vehicles Automotives powered by steam engine

e.g: Steamboat, steam locomotive, steam wagon

8.

Hybrid Vehicles Vehicles that use two or more distinct power

sources e.g: Hybrid buses, hybrid cars like Toyota Prius, Honda
Insight

9.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Automobile that uses both

Internal Combustion Engine and Electric Power Source to propel
itself e.g: Jaguar C-X75

4. Based on type of transmission:

1.

Automatic transmission vehicles Automobiles that are capable of

changing gear ratios automatically as they move e.g: Automatic
Transmission Cars

2.

Conventional transmission vehicles Automotives whose gear

ratios have to be changed manually

3.

Semi-automatic transmission vehicles Vehicles that facilitate

manual gear changing with clutch pedal

5. Based on number of wheels:

1.

Two wheeler Automobiles having two wheels e.g: Scooters,

motorcycles

2.

Three wheeler Automotive having three wheels e.g: Tricycles,

Auto rikshaws, Tempos

3.

Four wheeler Vehicle having four wheels e.g: Car, Jeep

4.

Six wheeler Automobile having six wheels used for heavy

transportation e.g: Large trucks, large buses

6. Based on the side of drive:

1.

Left hand drive automobile Vehicle in which steering wheel is

fitted on the left hand side e.g: Automobiles found in USA, Russia

2.

Right hand drive automobile - Vehicle in which steering wheel is

fitted on the right hand side e.g: Automobiles found in India,
Australia

Chassis
Automotive chassis is a skeletal frame on which various mechanical
parts like engine, tires, axle assemblies, brakes, steering etc. are bolted.
The chassis is considered to be the most significant component of an
automobile. It is the most crucial element that gives strength and
stability to the vehicle under different conditions. Automobile frames
provide strength and flexibility to the automobile. The backbone of any

automobile, it is the supporting frame to which the body of an engine,

axle assemblies are affixed. Tie bars, that are essential parts of
automotive frames, are fasteners that bind different auto parts together.
Automotive chassis is considered to be one of the significant structures
of an automobile. It is usually made of a steel frame, which holds the
body and motor of an automotive vehicle. More precisely, automotive
chassis or automobile chassis is a skeletal frame on which various
mechanical parts like engine, tires, axle assemblies, brakes, steering etc
are bolted. At the time of manufacturing, the body of a vehicle is flexibly
molded according to the structure of chassis. Automobile chassis is
usually made of light sheet metal or composite plastics. It provides
strength needed for supporting vehicular components and payload
placed upon it. Automotive chassis or automobile chassis helps keep an
automobile rigid, stiff and unbending. Auto chassis ensures low levels of
noise, vibrations and harshness throughout the automobile. The different

types

of

automobile

chassis

include:

Ladder Chassis: Ladder chassis is considered to be one of the oldest

forms of automotive chassis or automobile chassis that is still used by
most of the SUVs till today. As its name connotes, ladder chassis
resembles a shape of a ladder having two longitudinal rails inter linked
by

several

lateral

and

cross

braces.

Backbone Chassis: Backbone chassis has a rectangular tube like

backbone, usually made up of glass fibre that is used for joining front

and rear axle together. This type of automotive chassis or automobile

chassis is strong and powerful enough to praovide support smaller sports
car. Backbone chassis is easy to make and cost effective.

Monocoque Chassis: Monocoque Chassis is a one-piece structure

that prescribes the overall shape of a vehicle. This type of automotive
chassis is manufactured by welding floor pan and other pieces together.
Since monocoque chassis is cost effective and suitable for robotised
production, most of the vehicles today make use of steel plated
monocoque chassis.

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
A basic automotive transmission system or auto transmission system
comprises of various transmission components such as gears, shafts and
other parts, which function together to enable the movement of an
automobile.
Automobile or automotive transmission system consists of various
devices that help in transmitting power from the engine through the
drive shaft to the live axle of an automobile. Gears, brakes, clutch, fluid
drive and other auto transmission parts work together for transforming
the speed ratio between the engine and wheels of a vehicle. The auto

transmission system incorporates various components, which are

attached to the back of the engine, and used for distributing the power
from the engine to the drive wheels.

GEAR
Automotive gear and gear parts constitute an essential part of an
automotive transmission system. These transmission parts are toothed
wheels that comprises of interlinked set of rotating gears which are
basically used for changing speed or direction of a moving vehicle. The
size and dimension of the automotive gears differ according to the size
of the vehicle. For covering smaller distances there are low gears and for
larger distances there are high gears. High gears usually have more
number of teeth and have an ability of covering larger distances in just
one revolution of pedal.

CLUTCH
Clutch is basically a lever or pedal that is used for changing gears in an
automobile. The clutch used in automobile is a device which helps in
making the vehicle move smoothly from a standstill position, accelerate
it with different gears and bring it back to its original standstill position.
The key use of the clutch is to manage the smooth start, acceleration and
control the mileage of an automobile. Usually judder and heat resistant
materials are used for making automotive clutches. Stainless steel,

carbon, iron, copper, bronze, brass etc are widely used for manufacturing
automobile clutch.

DIFFERENTIAL
Differential is a device or an equipment that comprises of gears which
are attached to the drive shaft and allows the wheels to rotate at varied
speeds. The main purpose of creating this mechanism is for driving
wheels with alike force thereby allowing them to turn at different speeds.
More specifically, differential balances the power between the left and
right drive wheels at the time of cornering i.e. when inside wheels move
more slowly than the outside wheels.

AUTOMOBILE ENGINE
Automobile engine refers to a fuel-consuming machine or device that is
used for propelling automobiles, airplanes, tractors, buses, two wheelers,
cars etc. Engine forms an integral component of a vehicle that
transforms chemical energy in fuel into mechanical energy for power.
Usually, automobile engines make use of four strokes to turn chemical
energy into mechanical energy with the help of combustion of gases or
hydrocarbon fuel.

CAM SHAFT
Camshaft is a type of rotating device or apparatus used in piston engines
for propelling or operating poppet valves. Camshaft comprises of series
of cams that regulates the opening and closing of valves in the piston
engines. The camshaft works with the help of a belt, chain and gears
.

Connecting Rod:
Connecting rods are made of metals, which are used, for joining a
rotating wheel to a reciprocating shaft. More precisely, connecting rods
also referred to as con rod are used for conjoining the piston to the
crankshaft.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Automobile electrical system has gradually evolved over the years and
today it assimilates automatic computer control of the automotive
mechanics. In the early days, automobiles electrical system comprised of
only basic wiring technologies that were used for distributing power to
other parts of a vehicle. It had only switches, wires, relays and
controlled motors as its key components but todays electrical system
includes sensors, actuators, alternators, battery, oxygen sensors,
generator, starter solenoid, starter drive, high power electrical system

and other devices.

Components of Automobile Electrical System

Automobile Ignition
System

Armature

Automobile Battery

Automobile Starting
System:

Automotive Computer Automotive Electrical

Chips
Wiring:

Charging System

Spark Plugs

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

Automotive or Automobile Transmission System

A basic automotive transmission system or auto transmission
system comprises of various transmission components such as
gears, shafts and other parts, which function together to enable
the movement of an automobile.

Automobile or automotive transmission system consists of

various devices that help in transmitting power from the engine
through the drive shaft to the live axle of an automobile. Gears,
brakes, clutch, fluid drive and other auto transmission parts
work together for transforming the speed ratio between the
engine and wheels of a vehicle. The auto transmission system
incorporates various components, which are attached to the back
of the engine, and used for distributing the power from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Automotive Transmission System Parts

Automobile or
Automotive
Transmission

Automotive Gear
Parts

Clutch

Differential

Gear Shifters

Output Shaft

Torque Converters

Transmission Axles Universal Joints

ACCESSORIES

Auto accessories include all those additional or supplementary

devices or products used in automobiles for various purposes

like convenience, appeal, safety, etc. Automotive accessories can

be broadly classified into two main categories: interior auto
accessories and exterior auto accessories.
Interior accessories are of many types such as air bags, air
fresheners, seat covers, carpet kits, rear view mirrors etc while
exterior accessories consists of body panels, light covers, license
plates, side bars, windshield wiper blades, exterior lights, wheel
covers, visors etc. These automobile accessories enhance the
overall appearance as well as protect the different components of
the vehicle.
Types of Automotive Accessories
Automotive Body
Polishes/ Paints

Automobile
Maintenance
Supplies

Automotive Seats

Car Care Products

and Tools

Audio Devices

Video Devices

Automotive
Security Devices

Other Accessories