Friday 10th April 1807

Isaac de Rivaz of Switzerland test drove his road carriage powered by an internal combustion engine. The engine has a claim to be the world’s first internal combustion engine and contained some features of modern engines including spark ignition and the use of hydrogen as the fuel. Starting with a stationary engine suitable to work a pump in 1804, de Rivaz progressed to a small experimental vehicle built in 1807, which was the first wheeled vehicle to be powered by an internal combustion engine.