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Rediff.com  » Business » A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!
This article was first published 12 years ago

A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!

Last updated on: December 27, 2011 09:47 IST

Image: The 23-seater Superbus that travels at a speed of 250 kms/hour.

This Superbus is a 15-meter long electric vehicle with seating for 23 passengers and it travels at a speed of 250 kilometres per hour.

A design team from TU Delft University in Netherlands is behind this aerodynamic and luxurious Superbus.

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A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!

Image: Front view with doors opened.

What looks like a cross between the Batmobile and a very stretched limousine, the Superbus is constructed with super-light carbon fibre materials and it is powered by an electric motor backed up by lithium polymer batteries.

The aerodynamic exterior also makes the vehicle more energy efficient.

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Tags: Limo , Batmobile

A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!

Image: A view of the interiors.

The interior is equally impressive, with air bags fitted for each passenger along with television and Internet access.

The Superbus has a spacious, comfortable interior with extremely luxurious seating, so passengers have the sensation of being driven in a stretch limousine sportscar.

The other amazing feature is the sixteen gull-wing door. This means people can get in and out without disturbing their fellow passengers.

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Tags: Limo

A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!

Image: Rear wheel steering in action.

It has six wheels, including two pairs of rear wheels that can turn independently, thereby reducing its turning radius.

"The strength to the concept is that the Superbus can drive everywhere where a normal bus can drive," the Daily Mail quoted Ockels as saying. "It has adjustable height, rear-wheel steering and a turning circle of roughly 10metres," he added.

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Tags: Ockels , Limo

A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!

Image: The seating.

The project began in 2004 and so far costs around $19 million.

And with chief design engineer Antonia Terzi, who used to work for the BMW-Williams F1 team, onboard it comes as no surprise that it is also capable of travelling safely at high speeds.

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A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!

Image: Impression Superbus on the TT Circuit of Assen (in Dutch).

Passengers can order the bus via internet or text message. They then travel together with passengers who share more or less the same starting place and/or destination.

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Tags: Limo

A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!

Image: Side view of the Superbus.

The Dutch Ministry of Transport compared the performance of the Superbus to those of a high-speed trains.

Their study showed that the Superbus is most popular among passengers and has the least environmental burden. It also scores high in terms of cost-benefit analysis.

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A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!

Image: Superbus making tight turns with the help of rear wheel steering.

It is expected that the Superbus the system will offer comfortable, demand-dependent door-to-door transportation rivaling the car and the train.

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Tags: Limo

A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!

Image: First ride of Superbus at Lelystad, Netherlands.

It is also envisaged that the vehicle will run on special 'Super Lanes' which will be geothermically heated in order to prevent icing in the winter season.

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Tags: Limo

A STUNNING Superbus that beats a private Limo!

Image: Superbus on the Dubai Autodrome.

Finally, rather than following a timetable the vehicle will be routed in response to the needs of the particular passengers offering a complete journey without changes based on central routing optimisation system.


Tags: Limo