Subject: Automobile Engineering

Topic: Recent Trends in Automobiles

Difficulty: Medium

Vehicle can be classified into several types based on many criteria. A brieft classification of automobiles is listed below.
1) Based on Purpose
i) Passenger vehicle: These vehicles carry passengers. Ex: Buses, Trains.
ii) Goods vehicles: These vehicles carry goods from one place to another. Ex: Goods carrier, Trucks.
iii) Special Purpose: These vehicles include ambulance, Fire brigade, Army vehicles.

2) Based on load capacity:
i) Light duty vehicle: Small motor vehicles eg. cars, jeeps, scooter, motorcycle.
ii) Heavy duty vehicles: Large & bulky vehicles eg. Bus, Truck, Tractor.

3) Based on fuel used:
i) petrol engine vehicle: Automobiles powered by petrol engine. Eg: scooter, car, motorcycle.
ii) Diesel engine vehicles: Automobiles powered by diesel engine. Eg: Trucks, Bus, Tractor.
iii) Gas vehicles: Vehicles that use gas turbine as a power source. Eg: Turbine powered cars.
iv) Electric vehicles: Automobiles that use electricity as a power source. Eg: Electric cars, electric buses
v) Steam engine vehicles: Automobiles powered by steam engine. Eg: Steamboat, locomotive.

4) Based on drive of vehicle:
i)Left- hand vehicle: Steering wheel fitted on left hand side.
ii) Right hand vehicle: Steering wheel fitted on right hand side.
iii) Fluid drive: Vehicles employing torque converter, fluid flywheel or hydromatic transmission

5) Based on number of wheels & axles:
i) Two wheeler: motorcycle, scooter
ii) Three wheeler: Tempo, Auto rickshaw iii) Four wheeler: car, jeep, bus, truck
iv) Six wheeler : Buses & trucks have six tyres
v) Six axle wheeler: Dodge(10 tyre ) vehicle

6) Based on type of transmission:
i) Automatic transmission vehicle: Vehicle that are capable of charging gear ratios automatically as they move. Eg: Auto matic transmission cars.
ii) Manual transmission vehicle: Automobiles whose gear ratios have to be changed manually.
iii) Semi-Automatic transmission vehicle: Vehicles that facilitate manual gear changing with a clutch pedal.

7) Based on suspension system used:
i) conventional - Leaf spring
ii) Independant - Coil spring, Torsion bar, Pneumatic.