Automotive engineering is the branch of engineering that concerns itself with the manufacture of automobiles. A car is simply a wheeled vehicle used for transport. Most definitions of automobiles state that they are road vehicles, seats one-on-eight persons, carry four tires and are primarily transport goods instead of goods. Automotive engineering deals with the design, development, production, sale, installation and disposal of automobiles.
Automotive engineering deals with many diverse areas such as drive trains, combustion engines, cooling systems, control systems, mechanical engineering, etc. The automobile also has to meet legal requirements such as emission standards, crash test performance, fuel economy, etc. In order to manufacture cars and vehicles, the engineers must also be skilled in the various theories and practices of vehicle engineering. One major area of concern in vehicle engineering is fuel consumption efficiency, which is also an important factor in manufacturing automobiles.
The role of the automotive engineer has increased manifold due to the increasing demand for new vehicles in present times. The role of these engineers has increased manifold due to the increasing demand for new vehicles in present times. Thus, most automotive engineers hold advanced degrees in engineering.
In the past, engineers used to manufacture automobiles by hand. With the advent of new machines and technologies, a lot of importance is given to machinery in the manufacturing process. This mechanical engineering branch is particularly responsible for developing the various machines such as cranes and welding machines. New technologies are introduced from time to time which require a lot of research and development. Automotive engineers also help in the creation of new materials such as plastics and metal.
The increasing competition faced in the automotive industry has created a sense of enthusiasm and stress in almost all the sections of the industry. With this, these engineers are also highly demanded in almost all the fields. With this, new innovations and discoveries are made regularly, which requires these engineers. This stream of engineering offers a wide range of opportunities and the automotive engineers have to make themselves well versed with all the changes that take place in this field.
As a matter of fact, most of the manufacturers depend on automotive engineers to provide them hands-on experience in their products. Automotive companies give more importance to this hand-on experience and hire professionals. This enables them to use new innovations in their products and satisfy customers by producing high quality automobiles.
Automotive engineering uses different methods to produce automobile products. It uses firstly the concept of engineering and then design. First of all, it begins with the idea and analysis of the current needs of the market. This helps in creating plans and designing new vehicles and other automobiles. Next, it imitates the functions of the engine on the real vehicles, so as to provide better efficiency and performance.
The most common example is the hybrid vehicle. A hybrid vehicle has an engine and an electric motor. When the engine is switched on, the electric motor runs and when it is switched off, the engine runs. The advantage of this is that there is a balance between the two, providing the best of both worlds. Hence, this type of automobile is beneficial for the environment.
Another example is the direct injection hybrid vehicle. This type of vehicle uses combustion engine for power generation while an electric motor acts as a generator for the electricity produced. With the help of this technique, an excellent fuel economy can be achieved, with a drastic reduction in emission.
Another advance technology used in the production of hybrids vehicles is the direct fuel injection system or DFI. With the help of this system, electric cars are able to extract extra gasoline from the diesel engine, using only diesel fuel. This technology has made the electric car very cost effective, as you do not need to buy gasoline to run your hybrid vehicle. Even though you are still driving a gasoline engine, the power generated by the electric car will be far greater than the one produced by the gasoline engine.
However, it does not mean that you will not require the services of professionals during your career in automotive engineering. There will be times when you will require the services of a mechanic. You have to choose a mechanic who has enough experience and has been performing the tasks on a consistent basis for many years. A mechanic who has attended automotive engineering school should be preferred over others. It is because automotive engineers get involved in different projects during their careers. Therefore, it may not be possible for you to attend all the related workshops and training programs at once.