China has started to test drive a giant bus known as the Transit Elevated Bust (TEB), built to ease traffic in the world’s most populous country.
The first prototype of the TEB started a test drive on August 2nd, 2016 in the city of Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province. Many people gathered by the roadside to catch a glimpse of the huge moving machine over cars on the road.
When the concept of the futuristic bus was first launched, some people were skeptical of its viability. However, the test drive proved that the future has arrived.
The TEB-1 is 22 meters long, 7.8 meters wide and 4.8 meters high, with enough space under to allow cars to drive beneath it. The state-run Xinhua News Agency reports that the giant bus can carry up to 300 passengers.
The TEB is built to move along a designated track, constructed at side-by-side of the road. It looks similar like a commuter train, however, the key difference between the commuter train and TEB is that the TEB drives on top of the existing roadway, without the need to construct a separate overpass.
Images taken inside the TEB by Chinese media show a spacious passenger compartment, with few seats. Although it is said the vehicle can take up to 300 passengers, some Chinese media say if the seats are arranged like what is in conventional buses, it could far exceed the 300 passengers.
The TEB was built by TEB Technologies, an indigenous Chinese company. It is said TEB Tech first developed the concept of an elevated bus in China in 2010. The first model of the TEB was launched at the 19th China Beijing International High-Tech Expo in May 2016. The bus displayed at the expo was a mini-model, but it showed tremendous signs that it could be successful.
After the public display at the High-Tech Expo in Beijing, chief engineer of the bus, Song Youzhou told Xinhua in an interview: “The biggest advantage is that the bus will save lots of road space.”
During the test drive of this current full model, TEB tech reportedly opened up the bus for those who wish to enter, so they can have a first-hand experience of the giant machine. The manufacturer said the giant bus will help ease traffic congestion in the city.
According to the manufacturer, the TEB moves at a speed of 60km per hour, and up to four TEBs can be linked together. The company also said just one of the TEB can replace 40 conventional buses.
An engineer who helped built the giant bus, Bai Zhiming told the Chinese Central Television: “The TEB has the same functions as the subway, while its cost of construction is less than one fifth of the subway.”
The company also revealed that it is still looking at how to improve the bus, adding that the test drive was successful, as residents of Qinhuangdao admired what they witnessed.
According to Chinese media, when the idea of The TEB was launched in 2010, it attracted interest from governments in Brazil, France, India and Indonesia. However, it is unclear when the giant bus will be widely used in Chinese cities. The manufacturer refused to disclose the actual date, but said it is within the shortest possible time frame.
You want to support Anonymous Independent & Investigative News? Please, follow us on Twitter: Follow @AnonymousNewsHQ
This article (Innovation: China’s Futuristic Giant Bus that can Drive over Cars to Beat Traffic Congestion has Arrived [Video]) is a free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author and AnonHQ.com.
