Who Invented The Starter Motor?

Charles Kettering invented the electric starter in 1911 for use on the 1912 Cadillacs, integrating an electric motor, generator, and spark ignition system, vastly modernizing cars of the time.

Vincent Bendix engineered a drive system that allowed the starter gears to engage or disengage quickly and effectively, which is an important part of the starting system. The generating and ignition functions would soon be divorced from the starter and get their own dedicated systems, but ironically, many modern mild hybrids use an integrated alternator/starter system once again. The pinion gear then turns the flywheel and the engine starts. As soon as the engine fires (and you let go of the ignition key) the solenoid allows the pinion gear to retract and disengage from the flywheel, preventing damage to the starter.