China's First Test of the "Flying Bus"
China's Straddling Bus, or "flying bus," has finally completed its first tests after six years of anticipation. A futuristic feat of engineering that, hopefully, will finally free major cities from their traffic gridlock.
China's Straddling Bus, or "flying bus," has finally completed its first tests after six years of anticipation. A futuristic feat of engineering that, hopefully, will finally free major cities from their traffic gridlock.
It's well known that the number of motorists in Chine is growing explosively each year, which does nothing to improve traffic congestion and pollution problems.
To alleviate the road traffic in major cities, which despite the development of subway systems, continues to struggle with flow, the company Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co invented a truly remarkable bus nicknamed the "flying bus". Presented in 2010 at the International High Tech expo in Beijing, the Straddling Bus made headlines for its ingenuity and highly futuristic design.
The Straddling Bus Finally Unveiled
After nearly six years of waiting, the Straddling Bus, or "flying bus," has finally been presented during an inaugural test in Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province, not far from Beijing.
The first real tests had been announced for August, but few truly believed this futuristic bus would operate so soon. Though the tests were conducted not in real traffic conditions but on a controlled 300-meter track, the bus created a sensation among the Chinese press and developers.
A Futuristic and Economical Bus
This flying bus will operate on rails and be able to travel above cars, freeing up road space. It would reach a height of 4.6 meters and span 8 meters wide and 32 meters long. According to its developer, it can transport between 1,200 and 1,400 passengers, effectively replacing approximately 40 conventional buses.
Beyond being futuristic, the bus is economical and is designed to run on solar energy, thereby limiting exhaust emissions. Moreover, its manufacturing and installation of 40 kilometers of rail would cost around 500 million yuan (approximately 58 million euros), or 10% less than the cost of a subway line.
All that remains now is to await the date of the first operational deployment of this famous Straddling Bus!
Frequently asked questions
The Straddling Bus is a futuristic urban transportation concept invented by Chinese company Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Co. This giant bus travels on rails and straddles cars thanks to a height of 4.6 meters, allowing automobile traffic to pass beneath it. It can transport between 1,200 and 1,400 passengers.
The first tests of the Straddling Bus were conducted in August 2016 in Qinhuangdao, in Hebei Province, not far from Beijing. These trials were conducted on a controlled 300-meter track rather than in real traffic conditions.
According to its developers, manufacturing the Straddling Bus and installing 40 kilometers of rail costs approximately 500 million yuan, or about 58 million euros. This cost represents approximately 10% less than building an equivalent subway line.
Yes, the Straddling Bus is designed to run on solar energy, which would significantly reduce exhaust emissions and limit its environmental impact compared to conventional public transportation.
Following the 2016 tests, the project faced numerous financial, technical, and regulatory obstacles. To date, the Straddling Bus has not yet been deployed commercially in any Chinese city. The project remains, however, a landmark reference in urban transportation innovation.
