Chronology

Chronology

1882

First coal-fired electric generating station supplies household electricity.

1884

The German Gottlieb Daimler builds the first gasoline-fueled, spark-ignited, piston-engine car.

1902

Asphalt pavement for roads are made from processing crude oil.

1913

Thermal cracking (breaking of long-chained molecules by heat) of hydrocarbons increases gasoline production from petroleum.

1921

Thomas Midgley, Jr. uses tetraethyl lead as an antiknock additive in gasoline.

1936

The French Eugene Houdry develops the catalytic cracking of petroleum to produce high-octane gasoline.

1947

The American B. F. Goodrich firm introduces the first tubeless tires.

1949

Eveready Battery Co. miniaturizes the alkaline battery.

1954

First silicon-based solar battery is developed at Bell Labs.

1958

Boeing 707 jet airliners debut and begin to transform air transport.

1970s

Unleaded fuels introduced; the phase-out of lead in gas begins.

1975

Catalytic converters are introduced in many automobiles.

1980-1990s

Lithium-ion batteries are popular for cellular phones and laptop computers.

1981

The Columbia Space Shuttle becomes the world's first reusable spacecraft.