What is the energy transformation when starting your car?

Answer 1

The chemical energy in the battery creates electrical energy, which powers up the starter and the rest of the ignition electronics. The starter converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to spin the engine, and the electrical system creates thermal energy across the spark plug gaps (if you have spark plugs, which is most vehicles). This ignites the fuel-air mixture, and the burning of fuel is the change of chemical energy in the fuel into thermal energy. The thermal energy creates pressure in the combustion chamber, and this pressure increase is mechanical energy. That mechanical energy forces the piston down, and the mechanical energy is eventually transferred to the wheels to move the vehicle.