#HTE

China’s Transit Elevated Bus Concept Goes Bust

Back in May we pointed out the central design flaw in China’s Transit Elevated Bus concept, which is meant to straddle two lanes of traffic like a catamaran. Nevertheless, we were amazed when they built a prototype in August and began running trials; it spoke of both the will to innovate and China’s industrial might, and we looked forward to seeing what would happen with it.

Sadly, it seems we’ll never learn how the developers would have solved the turning radius problem. Shanghaiist reports that the project has been scuttled, and that the prototype is sitting dusty and unused in its hangar. 

So what happened? Well, the TEB project was not government-backed, but instead relied on investors to fund development. According to Shanghaiist’s translation of a Chinese newspaper article, those investors have pulled out amidst murky circumstances; the aforementioned article alleges that a local businessman involved with the project has committed some financial improprieties with the funding.

We’re bummed that there are no published TEB trial results saying that the braking loads or the power consumption was too high or addressing any design flaws. Because those are problems that can be solved by smart people. Instead it appears that the project is simply dead for want of a group of people that will support it. As Eric Quint wisely stated, “Innovation [is] not only about having the big idea. It is much more about managing and guiding the big idea through an organization.”

The real pity of it is that when it comes to design, China is popularly known for just two things: Piracy, and being the place where Western starchitects can indulge their fantasies. The TEB pointed towards a third option, where homegrown Chinese design coupled with a massive industrial base could produce innovative experiments to improve society. Had the project succeeded, it might have inspired other native designers to attempt innovations of their own.

Well, the country does have 1.3 billion people, and there have to be some dreamers in there somewhere. Hopefully someone there will try again.

http://www.core77.com/posts/58943/Chinas-Transit-Elevated-Bus-Concept-Goes-Bust