The Super Bus: Revolutionary Transportation or Failed Experiment?

Sunday, December 29, 2013

At Rentautobus not only do we want to find ways to improve the experience of tour operators who want rent a bus for their groups, but we also try to show the face of the future and mass transit trends in order to keep the associates who participate in our website, such as companies that rent cars, minivans, etc., informed.

Superbus

For those reasons, today we got a closer look at the Super Bus, a prototype automobile which is receiving a lot of publicity from some conspicuous peoplebehind the project, including the English magnate Richard Branson and the president of the International Automobile Association (FIA).
The Super Bus was the result of Dr. Wubbo Ockels’ (the first Dutch space traveler) idea to revolutionize the mass transport industry with a vehicle that would fulfill the four maxims of the current market: security, flexibility, comfort, and sustainability.

The prototype of the vehicle, a responsibility of engineer Antonia Terzi, who was a Formula 1 racecar designer, meets and exceeds all expectations.  To begin with, from the point of view of flexibility, this vehicle will make possible that which other high-speed vehicles cannot do.  The Super Bus, which can travel at 250 km/h (155 mph) and can carry from 23 to 30 passengers, can complete closed itineraries or can be flexible and travel through different points, depending on the necessities of the group that is traveling.  The vehicle does not need any infrastructure in order to be adopted by the governments in question.  The Super Bus could cover both regular lines and tourist routes including any necessary changes in the routes without any problems if it is observed that a route isn’t working.
With respect to its sustainability, there are no ifs ands or buts.  This automobile moves thanks to electric energy, the cleanest of all energies.  And as if that wasn’t enough, it has a very low rate of energy consumption, even when traveling at the great speed which it does.
The interior of the bus has all of the characteristics of a luxury car, and the interior comfort is an experience, they say, “like traveling in a luxury sedan.”  Each passenger has multimedia equipment to make their trip more pleasant.

Interior view of the Superbus

Given that it is rather long (15 meters/50 ft long), radar obstacle detection systems have been incorporated along with exceptional breaks. Furthermore, they say that the Super Bus is quite maneuverable.

Stated briefly, according to the official website of the Super Bus, this vehicle is much friendlier to the environment than transportation systems like high-speed trains like the AVE (Alta Velocidad Española).  It uses the same amount as a regular bus at 100 km/h (60 mph), but since it goes much faster, it’s obvious that the consumption per route will be reduced by at least 50%.

But only the industry itself and the governments will decide if this project will cause the next mass transport revolution or if it will only be a failed experiment.  In order to find out a little bit more, we want to ask our readers the following:
-If you are a tour operator, what advantages and what disadvantages do you see in the Super Bus for transporting your groups?

-If you are part of a coach hire company, would you use this bus?  Why?