Here's a timeline of key developments:
* 1680s: Christiaan Huygens built a model engine powered by gunpowder. This was a very early concept.
* 1807: François Isaac de Rivaz created the first known internal combustion engine that ran on a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. However, it was impractical for widespread use.
* 1859: Étienne Lenoir built a two-stroke engine that ran on coal gas, marking a significant step forward in engine development.
* 1860: Alphonse Beau de Rochas described the four-stroke cycle, which is still used today. However, he didn't build a working engine.
* 1862: Nikolaus Otto independently invented the four-stroke cycle engine, which was more practical and reliable than Lenoir's engine.
* 1876: Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach developed a small, high-speed engine that used gasoline, making it more practical for vehicles.
So, it's hard to pinpoint an exact date for the invention of the gas motor engine. It's more accurate to say that it evolved over time with contributions from several pioneers. However, Nikolaus Otto's 1862 engine is often considered a crucial turning point in the development of the gas motor engine, and Gottlieb Daimler's 1876 engine is credited for its practicality and use of gasoline.
