Brief Summary:
Invention/Project: "Straddling Bus" (TEB - Transit Elevated Bus)
Company: TEB Technology Development Company (developer and promoter)
Country: China
Period: Concept presented ~2010, prototype and tests ~2016, project discontinued ~2017
Essence: A futuristic concept of a giant portal bus moving on special rails above traffic lanes, allowing cars to pass underneath.
A loud, widely publicized project that turned out to be a flop. Faced unsolvable technical problems, safety issues, financial fraud accusations, and was quickly shut down after a demonstrative "test drive." A vivid example of hype disconnected from engineering and economic reality.
Creation History
The idea of a "portal bus" was first proposed in 1969 in the USA but did not develop further. In 2010, Chinese engineer Song Youzhou presented a modern version of the concept called the Transit Elevated Bus (TEB). The idea gained viral popularity on the internet and in the media as a revolutionary solution to traffic congestion in China's megacities. In 2016, TEB Technology Development Company introduced and conducted "tests" of a full-scale TEB-1 prototype in the city of Qinhuangdao, which garnered even more global interest.
Operating Principle
The TEB was a massive, wide carriage with a passenger compartment on top. The lower part was designed as a portal about 2 meters high. This "bus" was intended to move along special rails installed at the edges of two traffic lanes. The idea was that passenger cars could freely pass under the TEB while it moved above them, thus not creating additional congestion and using road space more efficiently. The TEB was to be powered by electric motors, supplied by either an overhead power line or batteries.
Declared Advantages
- Solving Traffic Problems: The TEB was not supposed to interfere with traffic moving underneath it.
- High Passenger Capacity: It was claimed that one TEB could carry between 300 and 1200 passengers, depending on the configuration.
- Cost-Effectiveness: It was asserted that building the infrastructure for the TEB would be significantly cheaper and faster than constructing a subway.
- Eco-Friendliness: Use of electric propulsion.
Why Did It Fail?
- Technical Impracticality: Numerous questions arose: How would the TEB turn at intersections? How would trucks and buses pass underneath it (the portal height is only 2 meters)? How to ensure the safety of cars beneath it? How to integrate rails and stops into the existing urban infrastructure?
- Questionable Tests: The "test drive" in Qinhuangdao took place on a very short, specially constructed track (300 meters) and, according to media reports, was more of a show for investors than actual tests. The prototype turned out to be bulky and immobile.
- Financial Issues and Fraud Accusations: The project attracted funds from private investors through peer-to-peer platforms. Later, the company faced accusations of creating a financial pyramid and illegal fundraising. The executives were arrested.
- Lack of Real Government Support: Despite initial interest, no city in China dared to implement such a risky and dubious project.
By 2017, the test site was dismantled, and the project was officially closed.
Ahead of Its Time?
Not really. Although the issue of traffic congestion and the search for alternative urban transport is relevant, the proposed solution was so detached from reality and ignored so many practical problems that it is hard to call it "ahead of its time." It was more of a spectacular but unviable fantasy.
Can It Be Revived?
Reviving the TEB in its original form is practically impossible due to fundamental technical and infrastructure issues. The urban environment is too complex for such a bulky and inflexible solution. The idea of using space above roads might find expression in other forms (like a monorail), but not as a "straddling bus."
WTF Factor
The very sight of a giant structure slowly crawling over cars looked like a scene from a 1970s sci-fi movie. But the main WTF is how this obviously impractical concept managed to generate such global hype and attract real investments. It demonstrates the power of viral marketing and people's desire to believe in simple "magical" solutions to complex problems, even if they defy common sense and the laws of physics.
Additionally, the "test drive" on 300 meters, which was presented as proof of viability, is the quintessence of showmanship.
User comments
Идея платформы автобусов представляет собой инновационное решение проблемы пробок в крупных городах, так как объединяет уникальный дизайн и высокую пропускную способность для перевозки пассажиров без влияния на движение. Концепция основана на электрической энергии, что делает ее экологически чистой. Несмотря на существующие вызовы, идея остается захватывающей и открывает новые горизонты в городском транспорте