The improved version of the steam dray that Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot presented officially to King Louis XV and his court on April 22, 1770, was able to move at a speed of about 4 kilometers per hour (2.5 miles per hour), although this was less than the speed requested by General Gribeauval. The fardier a vapeur had three heavy wooden wheels reinforced with metal: one in the front, which was used for steering, and two in the back to support the load. The two-cylinder steam engine and copper boiler were positioned at the front of the machine. Behind the narrow driver's seat was a platform for transporting equipment. This platform, made of wood reinforced by metal, supported the weight of the load.

The steam engine was held on the platform by two arms made of iron. When the platform was not loaded, this vehicle was unstable because of the uneven distribution of the weight. The instability of Cugnot's fardier made it difficult to maneuver.

When the fardier was demonstrated to the king, the smoking behemoth performed with some success. Still, the problems of maintaining steam had not been satisfactorily resolved. The fardier still needed to stop every ten to twelve minutes to build up enough steam pressure to continue to drive a little further. Worse, it lacked any efficient way to replenish the boiler's supply of water, requiring a difficult and time-consuming process for resupply.

Fuel could be loaded in the boiler only when the fardier was stopped. The boiler did not close perfectly, and steam escaped, making it difficult to maintain a high enough pressure inside the boiler. Safety was another concern, as the machine lacked both a safety valve and a pressure gauge. Nevertheless, Cugnot's efforts were impressive for his time.

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