Cars have been a part of our lives for over a century, and there are many interesting and bizarre automobile facts that most people don’t know about them. In this article, we’ll explore 10 fascinating car facts that you may have never heard before.
1. The First Speeding Ticket
The man in question was named Walter Arnold who drove a scandalous 4 times the limit which was 2 km/h. He was chased down by a police officer on his bicycle to catch up with Mr Arnold’s 13 km/h driving vehicle to issue him the first ever speeding ticket. He was fined £4 (S$6.5) 7s in total (about £260 or S$425 in today’s money) of which 10 shillings was for the speeding charge.
2. The first electric powered vehicle was created in 1832 by Robert Anderson
Robert Anderson, a Scottish inventor, created the first non-rechargeable primary power cell-powered carriage in 1832. Despite the benefits of electric cars, such as being better for the environment, they were not popular due to a lack of infrastructure to support them, especially in rural areas.
3. The inventor of Cruise Co#ntrol was blind
Ralph Teetor, an engineer and inventor who became blind at the age of 5, created cruise control to address the issue of speed inconsistencies while driving. This invention paved the way for future technologies such as autonomous vehicles, GPS navigation, hazard automatic braking, and lane assist systems.
4. The Fastest Car
There are plenty of contenders for the world’s fastest car, and as technology improves, so does the top speed. Currently, the world’s fastest petrol/internal combustion engine powered car is the Koenigsegg Gemera, hitting speeds of up to 248 miles per hour (399.12 km/h) and can reach 0 to 60km/h in 1.9 seconds.
The fastest electric vehicle is the 2022 Tesla Model S Plaid which can reach to a speed of 60mp/h (100km/h) in 1.99 seconds and reach a peak speed of 200 miles per hour (321.87 km/h).
Check out this article to see a list of the fastest electric and petrol powered cars in 2023.
5. The best-selling car of all time is the Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla has been the best-selling car of all time since 1966, with over 43 million units sold. Its popularity is due to its constant improvements and development, making it a popular choice among consumers around the world, including in Singapore.
6. 95% of a car’s lifetime is spent parked
Yep, that’s right, only 5% of your car’s lifetime is spent on the road. That’s because most of the time is spent parked overnight or in a parking lot during the day, or it could just be resting over the weekend when you are not going anywhere and having a lazy Sunday. It is a great idea to make sure you are leaving your vehicle in a safe spot like your garage or somewhere with cameras where you know your car is safe.
7. The average driver will spend approximately 99 days of their life stuck in traffic
It’s something we don’t usually think about as we are sitting in traffic in a rage trying to make the traffic congestion disappear, but it is a fact that a person can spend up to 99 days of their lifetime in a traffic jam.
8. The First Electric Car
Before you ask, Mary Anderson was not married to Robert Anderson. Robert Anderson was a Scottish inventor who developed a carriage powered by non-rechargeable primary power cells.
So why weren’t Electric Vehicles popular back then?
It was assumed during the 1900s that petrol cars were better than electric cars due to being cheaper, able to travel farther and overall better than an electric vehicle. After analysis from multiple sources, it seems the real reason, however, was very different. Research suggests the reason was in fact lack of infrastructure to support electric cars, as electricity was not available in rural areas.
9. A modern Formula 1 car can drive upside down in a tunnel at 120mph
F1 cars can produce around 3.5G while cornering, which means they have enough aerodynamic downforce to drive upside down in a tunnel.
How crazy is that! But please do not attempt to try this in Singapore’s Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) or any of our tunnels for that matter!
Another interesting fact about Formula 1 cars is that they can accelerate from 0-160km/h and back to 0 in under 5 seconds. The fastest measured F1 car in 2022 was 251.7l/h while the highest speed ever recorded in an F1 race was 272.5km/h in 2016 at the Mexican Grand Prix.
10. It is a criminal offence to drive a dirty car obscuring your licence plate
Drivers who fail to wash their car properly could be given a hefty fine of $469 and lose 3 demerit points in Australia if their licence plates are not displayed properly and cleanly. In Singapore if your number plate is not at certain measurements and is not displayed properly then you can be fined up to $1,0001 and imprisonment of up to 3 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cars have a long and fascinating history, and there are many interesting and bizarre facts about them that most people don’t know. From the first speeding ticket to the most produced car in history, these 10 facts offer a glimpse into the world of cars and their impact on society. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or simply curious about the history of automobiles, these facts are sure to surprise and entertain you.
