3D Express Coach

3D Express Coach (simplified Chinese: 立体快巴; traditional Chinese: 立體快巴; pinyin: Lìtǐ Kuǎi Bā) (also sometimes referred to as a 'straddle bus' or 'tunnel bus') is a proposed straddling bus designed by Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment Company and the concept was unveiled at the 13th Beijing International High-tech Expo in May 2010. Construction of the project was scheduled to begin in Beijing's Mentougou District by late 2010.[1][2][3]

Contents

Description

The bus will run along a fixed route and its passenger compartment spans the width of two traffic lanes. The vehicle's undercarriage rides along the edges of the two lanes it straddles and the overall height of the vehicle will be 4 to 4.5 m (13.1 to 14.8 ft) high.[4][5] Other vehicles lower than 2 m (6.6 ft) will be able to pass underneath the bus, reducing the number of traffic jams caused by ordinary buses loading and unloading at bus stops. Passengers on board the bus will experience a ride comparable to riding in the upper level of a double decker bus. They will board and alight at stations at the side of the road with platforms at the bus floor height and similar to stations of an elevated railway or via stairs descending through the roof of the bus from a station similar to a pedestrian overpass. The straddling bus will be electrically powered using overhead lines or other roof electrical contact systems designed for it, supplemented with solar power panels, batteries or supercapacitors on board. It will travel at a speed of up to 60 km/h (37 mph). Different versions will carry up to 1,200 passengers each with the larger versions consisting of articulated sections to facilitate going around curves.[4][5]

The bus will also be equipped with alarms to warn cars traveling too close to the bus and signals to warn other vehicles when it is about to turn. It would also have inflatable escape chutes similar to those of an aircraft.[6] Optional features could include sensors to keep the bus from colliding with a person or object such as an overheight vehicle in front, warning lights and curtains at the rear to keep drivers of overheight vehicles from going underneath, repeater traffic signals underneath to relay the indications of traffic signals up ahead, and animated light displays to simulate stationary objects and prevent disorientation of drivers undeneath.

Youzhou Song, the vehicle’s designer, estimates that the straddling bus could replace up to 40 conventional buses, potentially saving 860 tons of fuel and avoiding 2,640 tons of carbon emissions that those 40 buses would produce in a year.[5]

Proposed trial

According to the proposal, it would cost about 500 million yuan (~US$74.5 million) to build the bus and a 40 km (25 mi) guideway for it, claimed to be at 10% cost of building an equivalent subway and estimated to reduce traffic congestion by 20–30%. The Chairman of the company has said that it will only take a year for one to be built.[4] 115 mi (185 km) of track is set for construction in the Mentougou District for late 2010.[7]

The cities of Shijiazhuang, in Hebei Province, and Wuhu, in Anhui Province, have also applied to obtain financing for the straddling bus systems.[5]

In China there are four main modes of public transportation: subway, light rail, bus rapid transit (BRT) and normal buses. The express coach would be a substitute for BRT and augment its advantages. To remodel the road for the bus, two options are available: rails can be laid on the edges of the lanes that the bus occupies, or two white lines painted on the road to facilitate use of autopilot technology.[4] Rails would offer less wheel rolling resistance and therefore better energy efficiency. For either option it may be necessary to widen the lanes occupied by the bus to accommodate the bus wheels and undercarriage whilst allowing other vehicles to pass under the bus two abreast. Since the bus is no higher than a tractor trailer truck, roadway overpasses will usually not be a problem.

Recognition

The straddling bus was selected by Time Magazine as one the 50 Best Inventions of the Year 2010.[8]

References

  1. ^ 3D Express Coach to be put into trial in Beijing CNTV.news, August 25, 2010
  2. ^ McDermon, Daniel (August 5, 2010). "Riding High: A Chinese Concept for Bus Transit". New York Times. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/riding-high-a-chinese-concept-for-bus-transit. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  3. ^ "北京試驗立體快巴" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. August 7, 2010. http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/32/1/1/1813231/1.html. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  4. ^ a b c d Lee, Annie (July 31, 2010). ""Straddling" bus–a cheaper, greener and faster alternative to commute". Chinahush.com. http://www.chinahush.com/2010/07/31/straddling-bus-a-cheaper-greener-and-faster-alternative-to-commute. Retrieved 10 August 2010. 
  5. ^ a b c d Wassener, Bettina (August 17, 2010). "‘Straddling Bus’ Offered as a Traffic Fix in China". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/business/global/18bus.html. Retrieved September 22, 2010. 
  6. ^ Kilhefner, John (August 6, 2010). "The 3D Express Coach brings new meaning to 'Thru Traffic'". Gear Live. http://www.gearlive.com.news/article/3d-express-coach-q310/. Retrieved August 8, 2010. 
  7. ^ "China Plans Huge Buses That Can Drive Over Cars (Photos)". Huffington Post (Yahoo! News). August 3, 2010. http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/669166. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
  8. ^ Austin Ramzy (2010-11-11). "The 50 Best Inventions of 2010: The Straddling Bus". Time Magazine. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2029497_2030622_2029706,00.html. Retrieved 2010-11-17. 

External links