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China Actually Builds That Transit Elevated Bus Concept!

The working prototype is currently undergoing trials

By Rain Noe - August 3, 2016

in Cars

Back in May we discussed China's Transit Elevated Bus concept, which is something like a catamaran crossed with a double-wide bus. The idea is that the vehicle would not interfere with the regular traffic passing beneath it.

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Incredibly, what was presented as being in mere miniature-model stage just months ago has now been replaced by an actual 22-meter-long, 7.8-meter wide, 4.8-meter high prototype. A 300-meter test track has been constructed in the city of Qinhuangdao, and yesterday the vehicle was unveiled to the public.

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The idea is to run trials to to evaluate the vehicle's actual required braking distance, drag coefficient and power consumption, along with "the relationship between people and cars," according to a computer-translated version of a press release from TEBtech, the company that built it. Our guess is that the latter statement means they are evaluating how people move through and interact with the actual bus interior, which can hold 300 people.

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The central issue I have with the concept, which I referred to as the turning radius problem, has not been addressed. Indeed, as Wired reports, "The bus didn't navigate any corners on its inaugural test run or deal with any tricky bits of road infrastructure such as crossroads, bridges or traffic lights."

Indeed the actual shape of the test track has not been mentioned, though in the video we catch a glimpse of this map:

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It's not clear if the map is speculative or the actual test track itself. But should the TEB be relegated to a racetrack-shape course (in a single-carriage, non-articulated form) with the roadways, buildings and infrastructure on the ends modified to accommodate the large radius required, the TEB could prove an effective way to ferry a lot of people around quickly, something like Tokyo's circular Yamanote line.

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It is no mean feat to alter a cityscape to accommodate such a radius, but if anyone can do it, it is probably China, with their strong centralized government. (Imagine, for instance, trying to coordinate and clear a large racetrack shape in Manhattan or Chicago; it would be impossible.) The TEB could also be an excellent transit choice for a new city, where the infrastructure can be pre-planned to accommodate it.

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I still think it unlikely that the vehicle will be able to execute the serpentine turns depicted in the concept videos shown in May; as rendered it is physically impossible. But it is possible they'll jettison the original idea of having several cars attached with articulating joints, and proceed with the singular vehicle we see here. Should the concept reach fruition, Manhattan motorists will look on in envy.

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George Coffin

8 years ago

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My main concern is what happens when there is a traffic accident within the bus. As mentioned below, driving under this thing will likely be extremely disorienting. If multiple drivers are under the bus and collide, then...what the hell happens??

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Noodle Time

8 years ago

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it looks like it will pivot much the same way as a train car, with pivoting front a rear wheel sets.
the lanes will have to get narrower on turns to account for the offsets.

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Alex Ambridge

8 years ago

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A few cities have their metro lines suspended above the roads, thus not actually interfering with the roads, seems to make more sense.

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Jason Pokines

8 years ago

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I think I said it then, but I'll say it again: it's going to be disorienting as hell to be driving underneath it, keeping pace with it, without making the sides of the bus highly transparent. It is going to look like the car isn't moving from the car driver's perspective.

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Grace Brannen

8 years ago

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I'm glad you addressed the turning issue that was discussed--I'm honestly surprised they've continued with an honest-to-God prototype without publicly addressing this. It'll be interesting to see how this project progresses, as it's a fairly ingenious design.

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