The vehicle was a three-wheeled vehicle, with water reservoir and coal-fired boiler housed in its cabin, and a two-cylinder steam engine. It weighed about 1.8 tons. The steam drove two single-acting pistons that turned a crank mounted on the front axle. The steering was effected by a lever, which rotated the front wheel around its vertical axis. The steam engine drove the single front wheel which was linked by gears to the rear axle. The vehicle was steered by means of a pivoting front wheel. It took about 15 minutes to build up enough steam pressure to move the vehicle.
The Cugnot steam wagon was a significant early development in the history of automobiles, and it paved the way for later developments in steam-powered vehicles. However, it was not a commercial success, due to its slow speed and limited range.
