Luxury 'Superbus' Will Move 23 at 130MPH
A Bus Batman would be proud of
Dutch students are working on the "Superbus," a low-riding mass transit vehicle with a super-powered duo of electric engines and an all carbon-fiber and aluminum body. Leading the Dutch team are Prof.dr. Wubbo Ockels and Dr. ing. Antonia Terzi, who bring experience from aerospace and Formula 1, respectively.
You can have my car keys when you pry them from my cold, dead hands, because let's face it, mass transit sucks. It's cheap and efficient, but will never beat the relatively luxurious ride of your own car.
The Superbus project aims to make the same true for ride-sharing. There's enough space to provide all 23 passengers with good legroom and "high-volume air conditioning." Sixteen independent gulfwing doors make loading and unloading a lot easier.
The quad of rear wheels also turn to assist steering, and draw a peak of 800 HP from the massive array of lithium-polymer batteries in the back.
Up to 750 sensors detect if anyone's stupid enough to leave their seatbelt unfastened, while a collision detection system scans for obstacles "a few hundred meters away". The Superbus can clear 40 cm in the city, and drop down to 7 cm to improve aerodynamics at high speeds. All the above are crucial features when the top speed is 130 MPH.
The project will even attempt to put a modern spin on route management. People who pay for a ride can call or text ahead with pickup details, and an onboard computer will automatically determine the best route to cover all the passengers' destinations. Team reps insist that operating costs will put existing buses to shame. But only time will tell if The Superbus project can make an impact in high-density urban locales.
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Looks more like a not-too-durable space-age super stretch limo.
Is it just me or would this thing need to move on flat ground only? It seems that even when the car is jacked up for city mode it wouldnt be enough to clear grade changes in the road. I understand pot holes and speed bumps but I'd be more concerned with a hill or larger bump in the road. IDK, I guess they must have thought of all that first... I'm no vehicle designer.
I just pray that they arent using the Toyota regen braking & throttle systems.
Cmon, the guy's first name is wubbo. Nevermind not too durable, howabout not too crash worthy? Formula 1 cars don't exactly stay in one piece, nevermind this bus providing a rollcage and straps for all 23 people...
Expensive Fail.
I would hate to see that in an accident that rolls on it's roof... unless I feel in the mood to watch faces of death videos.
How about a T-bone steak? I would not want to be sitting in the middle of that thing! Cool or not!
To travel at it's designed speed of 130 mph, it would require perfectly maintained smooth roadways, a major change in speed limit laws (as well as a few others), and the patience and cooperation of every other person on the roadway. This type of concept fails because the real breakthroughs would be in the changes needed around it to allow this thing to exist in the first place, not in the bus itself. Example: I've invented peace on Earth. Now, everyone do it!
Japan has one already.
Looks like someone stretched out the Batmobile...
The Eliica developed by a team at Japan's Keio University has eight wheels and hit a top speed of 230 mph, with 250 mph in the crosshairs.
Holy Public Transport, Batman! That thing looks awesome!
It will fail in the most epic fashion possible, but it looks ace.
they are called "gull" wing doors. As in the bird.
All I can imagine - "WHATTHEFU-CRAAAAAAAAASH!"
To make public transit attractive to me, I don't care how luxurious it is I just don't want a round trip to take 15 minutes to an hour longer than I can get somewhere in my own car. Fix that and I'll never drive to work again...
Reading this I thought it's already April 1st.
Will it go round let's say, a medium speed corner? I think in the end the old boring normal bus will be faster in the real world.
looks like (to me) something you put on a high speed maglev rail line than on the road......
130 mph in a bus is not my idea of fun. plus the low ride, this would be positively scary.
And how well does it turn?
Nifty, but honestly I would not want to be in a low profile Limo sharing roads with Full Size Trucks. Making it look prettier isn't going to get people out of their own car's. Fix problems with overcrowding, reliability, cost, and safety and maybe then you will get people to use alternative transportation.
Cmon, the guy's first name is wubbo. Nevermind not too durable, howabout not too crash worthy? Formula 1 cars don't exactly stay in one piece, nevermind this bus providing a rollcage and straps for all 23 people... Expensive Fail.
I believe you tried to be ironic .. just in case u weren't, formula 1 cars are designed to NOT stay in one piece if they crash. I suggest u research the subject since it's quite interesting, that is if you were not ironic.
looks neat but won't work! The real future of mass transit at this point is high speed rail... all the speed of a plain with out the issues like weather and the fuel consumption on take off and landing.
Where are you going to drive it on, space?
Bus going at 130MPH? it's going to crash cars and kills jaywalkers.
Look, a speeding bus. Let's issue a ticket for it.
Look, a speeding bus. Let's issue a ticket for it.
"When the superbus breaks, the motors act as generators..."
LMAO!!. Interesting typo on a presentation slide.
Lol, when the superbus breaks, it becomes a giant super heavy paper weight.
Speed limit here is 60... somehow I don't see this coming to my town even if it's successful.
This wouldn't fail in Germany, they have the autobahn!
Looks like a crossing between a submarine, the batmobile and a delorean. Could be useful for inter-city transits.
-How about an upset/pothole in the road larger than 7cm @ 130MPH
-How about more than one tire per side on the front so one flat tire @ 130 doesn't cause catastrophe
-How about maneuverability in the city
-How about downtime required to recharge the batteries
-How about windshield wipers
-How about total travel distance @ 130MPH before the batteries run out
It does look awesome though
To travel at it's designed speed of 130 mph, it would require perfectly maintained smooth roadways, a major change in speed limit laws (as well as a few others), and the patience and cooperation of every other person on the roadway. This type of concept fails because the real breakthroughs would be in the changes needed around it to allow this thing to exist in the first place, not in the bus itself. Example: I've invented peace on Earth. Now, everyone do it!
SOME countries have no speed limits on certain sections of their highways and well maintained roads as well. I believe Switzerland is one of these places.