France, Pioneer


Middle of the nineteenth century, progress in the field of steam led some to revisit road vehicles. In the logic of things, it is in England, a pioneer in the development of railways, the steam-powered car takes off. However, the decree of 1839 limiting the speed to 10 km / h to stagecoaches and steam the "Locomotive Act" requiring vehicles to be preceded by a man on foot waving a flag rouge put an end to his Overseas Development Manche.

It is in France that the steam car resumes. Among the most famous adaptations of steam propulsion, it should be noted that of Amedee Bollee which markets in 1873 the first true steam car, a vehicle called The Obedient capable of carrying twelve people at a speed of 40 km / h. Bollee designs then, in 1876, a steam omnibus with four wheel drive and steer, and then in 1878 a car called The Mancelle lighter (2.7 tons) as its first model, which easily exceeds 40 km / . Presented at the 1878 Universal Exhibition in Paris, these two cars are classified with the rolling stock.

This exhibition allows the public and several industrial fully discover these new machines. Orders flow from all sides, especially in Germany, where a subsidiary Bollée even see in 1880. Bollee hand then conquer the world and presents its models from Moscow to Rome, Syria in England (1880-1881). A new model is launched in 1880, called New, equipped with a gearbox and two reports of a steam engine of 15 ch. In 1881, the model's Quick six places up to 63 km / h is presented. Other models will follow, but steam propulsion is an impasse on weight / performance ratio. Bollee and his son AmédéeNote four propulsion experiment well with alcohol, but it is ultimately the combustion engine and the oil that is imposent.


Following the progress of engines, some engineers seeking to reduce the size of the boiler. Thus, at the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of Paris of 1889, the first steam vehicle midway between the car and tricycle developed by Peugeot-Serpollet is présenté. This significant improvement is mainly due to Leon Serpollet that develops boiler "flashing" . He also obtained on the vehicle of his own design the first license français. Its chassis but mainly use it devotes time to explain that this tricycle is generally considered an automobile. But despite all of these prototypes, the car is not yet fully launched, it will have to wait a widespread innovation of the 1860, that will change the course of automotive history: the combustion engine.