The modern starting and charging system is something that most drivers tend to take for granted.
In the early days of the automobile, drivers had to use a hand crank to trigger the internal-combustion process. And up until the 1960s, cars relied on a crude generator called a dynamo to charge the battery and power the radio and other electrical accessories.
When the alternator came on the scene, it was a major upgrade from the dynamo, and today it still serves as the foundation of the car-charging system.
This video is sponsored by the Automotive Distribution Network.