by Ihor Cap
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The 23 seater 250 km/h Superbus |
Photo: The Superbus, Wikimedia Commons
It’s 15 meters or 49.2 feet long, it costs a cool 13 million euros and it was exhibited at the 2010 Millionaire Fair in Amsterdam Holland as the most luxurious bus in the world. It’s called the “Superbus.” Super, perhaps because it has a very powerful electric motor which reaches speeds of 250 kilometers or 155.3 miles per hour. You might also say it’s super because it is eco-friendly. The bus, while having an imposing length, uses a lithium polymer battery pack, has powerful regenerative braking and does not consume a lot of energy.
The “Superbus” has a cured carbon fiber chassis and is constructed with light materials, IXIS Thermoplastic reinforced fiberglass, much like the ones used in the aerospace industry. A fully loaded vehicle of this type comes with Seat belts, airbags, TV, internet, air-conditioning, heating, and much more yet it weighs a mere 9,500 kilograms or about 20,944 pounds. It seats 23 passengers comfortably and has eight doors on each side that open vertically.
The research and design team for this innovative “Superbus” project consists of the first
Dutchman in space, Prof. Dr. Wubbo Ockels, Italian Designer with Formula 1 experience Dr. Ing. Antonia Terzi (she is the Chief Project Designer), and Aerospace Engineer and now Assistant Professor Joris Melkert MSc. Its main mission is to explore public transport for the future.
Dutchman in space, Prof. Dr. Wubbo Ockels, Italian Designer with Formula 1 experience Dr. Ing. Antonia Terzi (she is the Chief Project Designer), and Aerospace Engineer and now Assistant Professor Joris Melkert MSc. Its main mission is to explore public transport for the future.
Author Information:
Ihor Cap is a web author and Dad.
More about this project here http://www.superbusproject.com/.
