Ground propulsion is any mechanism for
propelling solid bodies along the ground, usually for the purposes of
transportation. The propulsion system often consists of a combination of an
engine or motor, a
gearbox and
wheel and axles (or
caterpillar tracks) in standard applications.
The primary and most natural type of propulsion is the use of muscle power. The invention of the wheel allowed for the development of
vehicles like
Carts and
Wagons that make more efficient use of muscle power, allowing larger loads to be transported. Vehicles drawn by humans and domesticated animals are not economically as important as they once were, but they still exist. Examples of human-powered vehicles are
rickshaws and
cycle rickshaws.
The development of the
steam engine and
internal combustion engine allowed for the development of
rail vehicles and
motor vehicle
A motor vehicle, also known as a motorized vehicle, automotive vehicle, automobile, or road vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on railway track, rails (such as trains or trams), does not fly (such ...
s, all of which have some form of a
powertrain. The
electric motor allowed for quieter vehicles with lower emissions, and frequently higher
engine efficiency.
Some less commonly used or experimental engines are:
*
Turbines
*
Stirling engines
*
Fuel cells
Propulsion
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