China’s Transit Explore Bus (TEB) has launched the pilot project of its road-straddling ‘Transit Elevated Bus’ in Qinhuangdao this week.
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According to China’s Xinhua News, the TEB-1, or Transit Elevated Bus, took its first test ride Tuesday in the northeastern city of Qinhuangdao, in the Hebei province.
What makes the bus different from the other buses in the world is that it drives on the road but it has a lot of space below to allow cars to keep going without stopping.
The passenger compartment spans two traffic lanes and sits high above the road surface on a pair of stilts, leaving the road clear for ordinary cars to pass underneath.
The Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) made its first ever test journey earlier this week. Mr. Song claims that each transit bus could replace 40 traditional buses and could save fuel up to 800 tons. Inventors were slated to begin laying track in 2010, but officials from Beijing’s Mentougou District refused to sign off on the project without a road-tested prototype.
Thankfully, the Chinese company that designed the bus has answered the internet’s prayers by actually building one. The rear of the TEB has traffic lights and a boom gate that can lower to stop cars from passing beneath, if a problem is detected. It will be able to carry 1,200 passengers and will be able to travel at 60 Km/h.
Song said that the bus is similar in function to a subway but at 16 percent of the cost, adding that construction time would be shorter.
The elevated bus designated TEB-1 will be tested for it’s power consumption and breaking ability.
Furthermore, the design is environmentally friendly.
Some Chinese cities have shown interest in the invention.
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Technically, the TEB is a train – it runs on rails laid along the side of the roadway.
