Innovations from the East

Were this to operate in England, the extended roofline of this Japanese Ryobi would no doubt provide an opportunity for increased advertising revenue as a “superside” single deck. But that would defeat the object of the world’s first solar cell equipped bus.

This currently powers the bus’ interior lights, saving the fuel otherwise required to do so. No one has yet commented whether the photovoltaic panels come with a weight penalty that negates their energy saving effect.

Being Japanese, the Solarve comes with air scrubbers that, like Domestos, apparently kill 99 per cent of (airborn) germs, dead. In time, this too will be driven by solar energy. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time before vehicles such as the Solo EV come with top up panels, too, though since a couple of domestic panels on your house roof will power nothing more than your hot water, it may be some time before we see the end of diesel or hybrid technology or the use of catenary-less trolleybuses.

I first came across this in at least one trade mag and wondered whether April 1st had come early. Apparently, the Chinese are serious and the Shenzhen Huashi 3D Fast ‘Strangling’ Bus might yet solve some of the roadspace problems associated with Chinese leaps in car ownership. Such congestion inevitably results from an economy whose GDP is growing at nearly 10 per cent per annum. Whatever happened to the pushbike?

The straddling bus is actually a trolleybus that also uses solar power for some it its energy. Here we have the perfect answer to those in urban Britain who complain that articulated buses take up too much roadspace. Not sure about easy disabled access, though, with seemingly huge lifts to ground level. And, like First’s FTR, the driver might truly be designated a ‘pilot’ as he flies above the traffic.

Check out the video on You Tube. Interestingly, the presentation features Lara Croft European-looking simulated models including a slightly risqué short-short skirted woman ascending the vehicle’s stairs.

A whole new meaning to the term ‘double decker’, perhaps.