Motor vehicle

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A motor vehicle (abbreviation: Kfz ), in Switzerland and Liechtenstein motor vehicle ( Mfz ), is a " vehicle driven by a motor , not tied to rails ", i.e. motor vehicles , motorcycles and tractors .

definition

Germany

The following legal definition exists in German road traffic law :

"Motor vehicles within the meaning of this law are land vehicles that are moved by machine power without being tied to railroad tracks."

- Section 1 (2) of the Road Traffic Act

.

In § 2 No. 1 of the German Vehicle Licensing Ordinance , motor vehicles are defined as " land vehicles that are not permanently tracked and are moved by machine power." However, bicycles with auxiliary drives ( § 63a ) and vehicles that are not faster than 6 km are an exception / h ( § 16 ).

Switzerland

In Switzerland it is defined:

"Motor vehicle within the meaning of this law is any vehicle with its own drive, by means of which it is moved on the ground independently of rails."

- Art. 7 para. 1 Road Traffic Act .

Austria

In Austria, according to the Motor Vehicle Act ( § 2 (1) Z 1 KFG ):

(1) For the purposes of this federal act,

1. Motor vehicle a vehicle intended for use on roads or used on roads, which is driven by technically released energy and is not tied to rails, even if its drive energy is taken from overhead lines;

International

The international convention on road traffic signs defines:

m) "Motor vehicles" *) means any self-propelled vehicle with a propulsion engine, with the exception of motorcycles in the territory of the Contracting Parties, which have not treated them as motorcycles, and with the exception of rail vehicles;

n) "Motor vehicles" *) in the sense of this letter are only those motor vehicles that are normally used for the transport of people or goods or to pull vehicles that are used for the transport of people or goods. This term includes trolleybuses - that is, vehicles connected to an electrical line and not traveling on rails. It does not include vehicles that are only occasionally used on the road to transport people or goods or to pull vehicles used for the transport of people or goods, such as agricultural tractors;

*) The term "motor vehicle" is used in two different meanings. If it is used without an addition, it has the meaning assigned to it under letter m. If it is used with the addition “(Article 1 letter n)”, it has the meaning assigned to it under letter n.

Others

In other countries an analogous definition usually applies.

Motor vehicles are considered to be road vehicles because the lane guidance is usually achieved through friction on a flat or uneven surface. Despite the motorized drive, rail vehicles do not belong to the motor vehicles. Corresponding definitions can be found in the traffic laws, for example in the German Road Traffic Act ( Section 1 (2) StVG), in the Austrian Motor Vehicle Act ( Section 2 (1) Z 1 KFG) and in the Swiss Road Traffic Act (Art. 7).

history

Vehicle and body types (Germany)

This article or paragraph presents the situation in Germany . Help us to describe the situation in other countries.

For the uniform collection of vehicle data, the register for the systematisation of motor vehicles and their trailers of the Federal Motor Transport Authority came into force on October 1, 2005 . Among other things, EC vehicle classes , emission classes , vehicle and body types (national) as well as fuel types and energy sources are listed. Accordingly, motor vehicles include (the corresponding abbreviations in brackets):

International classification ( EC vehicle classes )

For a more precise specification, motor vehicles have been divided into vehicle classes according to EC Directive 70/156 / EEC :

  • L.
    • L1 single-track mopeds
    • L2 multi-track mopeds
    • L3 motorcycles
    • L4 motorcycles with sidecars
    • L5 motor tricycles
    • L6 4-wheeled light motor vehicle
    • L7 4-wheeled motor vehicle ( max.power output 15 kW, empty weight up to 400 kg, up to 550 kg for goods transport (in each case without batteries for electric vehicles))
  • M Motor vehicles for passenger transport with at least four wheels
    • M1 vehicles with a maximum of 8 seats (except the driver's seat)
    • M2 vehicles with more than 8 seats under 5 tons
    • M3 vehicles with more than 8 seats over 5 tons
  • N Motor vehicles for the carriage of goods with at least four wheels
    • N1 vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 t.
    • N2 vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 12 t.
    • N3 vehicles with a gross vehicle weight over 12 t.
  • O trailers including semi-trailers
    • O1 trailers up to 750 kg (light trailers)
    • O2 trailers up to 3.5 t
    • O3 trailers up to 10 t
    • O4 trailers over 10 t

technology

The motor vehicle consists of a large number of parts that are combined in units and independent assemblies. The direct and indirect interaction of all parts ensures that the automobile functions properly. The main assemblies include:

  • engine
  • Power transmission
  • landing gear
  • Body or also called structure
  • Vehicle electrics / electronics

engine

Motors are machines that generate mechanical drive power by converting energy. Combustion engines are currently primarily used in automotive engineering .

Combustion engines are subdivided according to several aspects:

  • according to the active principle

After petrol and diesel-powered vehicles dominated automotive technology for a long time, increased environmental awareness and the rise in prices as well as the foreseeable reduction in the availability of mineral oil-based fuels are also bringing alternative fuels and alternative drive concepts back into the focus of automotive developers and manufacturers.

Alternative fuels can be:

Alternative drive technologies are partly implemented or supplemented by electrifying the drive train:

Power transmission

The power transmission includes all components that are arranged in the drive train between the engine and the drive wheels. The main tasks of power transmission are the transmission, distribution and regulation / conversion of the torque and the speed.

Power transmission includes:

landing gear

The chassis is understood to be the parts of the vehicle that transmit power from the vehicle body to the road and that determine or influence the driving behavior of a vehicle.

The vast majority of vehicles are moved on wheels . For vehicles that are to be moved in difficult areas, such as certain excavators and battle tanks are chain drives used. There are also exotic chassis such as the worm drive of the Russian ZIL-2906 or vehicles with mechanical legs such as the Mondospider or the clumsy walking machine.

The chassis include:

The chassis serves in its entirety to make the motor vehicle drivable. In addition to the possibility of changing the direction of travel, the chassis must maintain constant contact with the road even on uneven stretches in order to transfer forces.

Currently, an independent suspension is mostly used in cars and often in buses . For SUVs and trucks are still too rigid axles are used. In some cases, leaf springs are also used as a spring element, while torsion bar and coil springs usually dominate. In buses and trucks in particular, however, air suspension is also increasingly being used, which enables easy adaptation to the load. In passenger cars, air suspension has so far been reserved for the luxury class for reasons of cost. The concept of modern air suspension was invented by Citroën in the early 1950s as hydropneumatics .

body

The body is the structure and paneling of the motor vehicle.

There are three different designs:

  • load-bearing construction
  • Frame construction
  • self-supporting construction

With the frame construction, the body and frame form a separate unit and are elastically connected to one another. This construction method is primarily used in truck construction. In the "self-supporting" construction, a stiffened floor assembly takes on the function of the frame. The entire structure forms a unit. This construction method is primarily used in car construction. With the “load-bearing” construction, the frame is firmly connected to the body via welded or screwed connections.

Vehicle electrics / electronics

The electrical system of the motor vehicle includes all live components. These are:

Environmental protection, landscape protection

The motor vehicles in road traffic are the main reason for road construction with all its consequences ( surface sealing , deforestation , etc.). Since the vast majority of vehicles are driven by internal combustion engines (more precisely: with the power generated by internal combustion engines), the motor vehicle is one of the causes of air pollution . From the point of view of environmental protection , energy-saving cars can be distinguished from conventional motor vehicles, see 3-liter car . This is particularly important with regard to the emission of carbon dioxide, which creates the greenhouse effect .

Stock of passenger cars by fuel type

Germany

Fuel type (as of Jan. 1) petrol diesel Liquid gas (LPG) (including bivalent) Natural gas (CNG) (including bivalent) Electric Hybrid other types of fuel Total cars
2005 36.264.661 9,071,611 13.051 21,571 2,038 2,150 444 45.375.526
2006 35,918,697 10.091.290 40,585 30,554 1.931 5,971 1,275 46.090.303
2007 35,594,333 10,819,760 98,370 42,759 1,790 11,275 1,370 46,569,657
2008 30.905.204 10,045,903 162.041 50,614 1,436 17.307 1,089 41,183,594
2009 30,639,015 10.290.288 306,402 60,744 1,452 22,330 940 41,321,171
2010 30,449,617 10,817,769 369.430 68,515 1,588 28,862 1,846 41,737,627
2011 30,487,578 11,266,644 418,659 71,519 2,307 37,256 17,600 42,301,563
2012 30,452,019 11,891,375 456.252 74,853 4,541 47,642 965 42,927,647
2013 30.206.472 12,578,950 494,777 76.284 7.114 64.995 2,532 43,431,124
2014 29,956,296 13.215.190 500,867 79,065 12,156 85,575 2,081 43.851.230
2015 29,837,614 13.861.404 494.148 81,423 18,948 107,754 1,833 44,403,124
2016 29.825.223 14,532,426 475.711 80,300 25.502 130,365 1,682 45.071.209
2017 29,978,635 15,089,392 448.025 77.187 34,022 165.405 10,894 45,803,560
2018 30,451,268 15.225.296 421.283 75,459 53,861 236.710 10,717 46,474,594

From January 1, 2008 only registered vehicles without temporary shutdowns / decommissioning.

Austria

Fuel type 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Petrol (including petrol / ethanol E85) 2,168,945 2,087,180 2,127,533 1,983,337 1,960,380 1,957,751 1,972,352 1,988,079 1,997,066
diesel 1,885,228 2,021,743 2,127,533 2,220,804 2,283,302 2,323,016 2,381,906 2,445,506 2,506,511
Electric 135 128 127 127 131 146 223 353 989
LPG (including bivalent) 78 131 707 1,770 33 57 88 125
Natural gas (including bivalent) 1,381 1,847 2,209 2,670
Hybrid 2,592 3,559 4,792 6,060
Total cars 4,054,308 4.109.129 4,156,743 4,204,969 4,245,583 4,284,919 4,359,944 4,441,027 4,513,421

Switzerland

Fuel type petrol diesel Electric Other fuels Total cars
1990 2,905,762 79.129 409 97 2,985,397
1991 2,975,154 81,883 671 90 3,057,798
1992 3,006,666 83,640 771 151 3,091,228
1993 3,022,762 85,703 774 284 3,109,523
1994 3,073,062 90,747 775 458 3,165,042
1995 3,132,238 95,585 770 583 3,229,176
1996 3,166,299 100,412 759 623 3,268,093
1997 3,216,484 105.718 753 500 3,323,455
1998 3,269,402 112,736 746 423 3,383,307
1999 3,342,265 123.969 724 353 3,467,311
2000 3,402,309 141,863 754 321 3,545,247
2001 3,456,468 172.097 690 458 3,629,713
2002 3,486,757 213.184 676 334 3,700,951
2003 3,490,699 261,987 651 553 3,753,890
2004 3,489,925 319.905 625 896 3,811,351
2005 3,475,004 381.189 592 4,657 3,861,442
2006 3,442,302 450.992 562 6.158 3,900,014
2007 3,418,081 524,614 528 12,564 3,955,787
2008 3,370,326 596.480 517 22,488 3,989,811
2009 3,320,810 666.089 512 22,191 4,009,602
2016 3,149,902 1,291,500 10,724 57,439 4,524,029
2017 3,127,023 1,346,938 14,539 67,661 4,570,823
  1. ↑ a b Hybrid vehicles (petrol-electric, diesel-electric)

driving licence

In almost every country in the world, the use of a motor vehicle on public property requires the possession of a driving license , which can be subject to conditions and restrictions. A driver's license documents this permission.

taxation

Some taxes are levied in connection with motor vehicles. In addition to the purpose of fundraising, states also use this instrument to reduce the environmental damage caused by motor vehicles . In addition to the consumption-based mineral oil tax, there is a time-related vehicle tax and (less often, e.g. in Denmark ) a registration tax . In Austria there is also the standard consumption tax (NoVA), which must be paid when a vehicle is first registered in the country.

Research institutions on the subject of motor vehicles

Problem cases

Most electrically powered recreational fun devices, such as B. e-boards are legally classified as motor vehicles. In public spaces, they are therefore not allowed to be used on the sidewalk or bicycle path, but must be out on the street. There they then need an official license, otherwise their use is " driving without license ", which can be punished with a fine and points in Flensburg. In the case of a minor “driver” i. A. add " driving without a license ".

Exceptions are pedelecs (electric bikes) and Segways .

See also

Web links

Commons : Motor vehicles  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Motor vehicle  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Motor vehicle . Duden , accessed on December 19, 2013.
  2. ↑ The Brockhaus in one volume . Leipzig 1994, ISBN 3-7653-1676-8 .
  3. ↑ RIS - Convention on Road Traffic Signs - Consolidated Federal Law, version dated August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018 .
  4. ^ The federal authorities of the Swiss Confederation: SR 741.01 Road Traffic Act, Art. 7 Motor vehicles , accessed September 19, 2012
  5. ^ The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation: Road Traffic Act (SVG) , PDF version, accessed September 19, 2012
  6. ↑ Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt: Directory for the systematisation of motor vehicles and their trailers. 7th edition. June 2012, part A 1B.
  7. ↑ Winfried Reinhardt: Public transport: technology - legal and business fundamentals. Page 578.
  8. ↑ Film on YouTube
  9. ↑ Mondo Spider on the Burning Man Festival: Movie on YouTube
  10. ↑ The Walking Machine at the Burning Man Festival: Film on YouTube
  11. ↑ Stock of passenger cars according to displacement classes and fuel types. (PDF) In: Statistische Mitteilungen des Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, Series 2, January 1, 2006. Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt , September 2006, p. 19 , archived from the original on January 7, 2007 ; Retrieved June 25, 2014 .
  12. ↑ a b Number of passenger cars from 1955 to 2014 by type of fuel. (PDF) In: Statistische Mitteilungen des Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt FZ 13, January 1, 2014. Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt , March 2014, p. 12 , accessed on June 25, 2014 .
  13. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Number of cars in the years 2008 to 2017 according to selected fuel types. Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, accessed on March 17, 2018 .
  14. ↑ Passenger cars on January 1, 2018 according to selected features. Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, archived from the original on March 17, 2018 ; accessed on March 17, 2018 .
  15. ↑ Statistics Austria ; Motor vehicles - stock Austria 2005-2011
  16. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Federal Statistical Office : Road vehicles in Switzerland ( Memento from May 18, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  17. ↑ a b Federal Statistical Office: Road vehicles - inventory, degree of motorization