1900 - The Beginning of the Oil Age

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De Dion Bouton E petrol driven car, 1899, photo: Deutsches Technikmuseum, Kirchner

De Dion and Bouton produced steam vehicles up until 1895. After that they developed petrol motors with magneto ignition which achieved as many as 2000 RPM instead of the 700-800 RPM which were usual at the time. Around 1900, the de Dion was one of the most powerful motors of its kind and it exercised a decisive influence on petrol motor design.