Chinese authorities have finally tested a huge elevated bus that straddles the road, allowing cars to pass to below it.

The 2m-high Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) had its road test on a 300m-long controlled track in the north-eastern city of Qinhuangdao, China.

It is also known as a land airbus. The concept of the TEB is the brainchild of the Beijing-based Transit Explore Bus led by the project’s chief engineer Song Youzhou. The project was introduced in 2010. A working scale model was first unveiled in May at the 19th annual China Beijing International High-Tech Expo.

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At about 72-feet long, 26-feet wide, and 16-feet high, a single cabin of the elevated bus can transport up to 300 people or the equivalent of 40 conventional buses, according to BBC. The vehicle is expected to reach speeds of up to 60km per hour, running on rails laid along ordinary roads. Up to four TEBs can be linked together.

Its design does not require elevated tracks or underground tunneling. Instead, it simply straddles the traffic below, allowing cars beneath to drive uninterrupted. The TEB is designed to reduce traffic congestion in cities without the need to build new infrastructure like roads or subways or anything like that.

The developers believe this method would be more efficient, in terms of speed and overall cost, than building a subway system. Because the TEB is powered by electricity, the transportation system could also help the country cut carbon emissions by almost 2,500 tons, CNN Money reported.

"The biggest advantage is that the bus will save lots of road space," Song Youzhou said.

The chief engineer of the project added that the bus functions similar subway, but its cost much less.

Some Chinese cities have shown interest in the invention as well as countries such as Brazil, France, India and Indonesia.

Tagschina, elevated bus, straddling bus China, TEB, Transit Elevated Bus, Transit Elevated Bus China, Transit Explore Bus, Carbon emission, air pollution, traffic congestion, China Beijing International High-Tech Expo