Luxurious battery-powered vehicle is shown at Dubai

Former Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels headed up the development of the so-called Superbus, while the design of the vehicle was spearheaded by Antonia Terzi, Italian former chief aerodynamicist of the BMW-Williams Formula 1 team.

The Superbus — a cross-over between a bus and a limousine — is similar in length and width to a public bus and as high as a conventional SUV. It is 15m long and provides seating for 23 passengers. In order to improve access, it has eight doors per side.

The eco-friendly design has a thermoplastic reinforced fibreglass body and a carbon-fibre chassis, while the front and the rear sub-frames, including the suspension, are made from aluminium.

The vehicle is powered by a lithium-polymer battery pack that drives rear wheel motors with a 300kW combined power output. The battery pack can be exchanged rapidly from both sides of the vehicle through battery-exchange hatches.

Within city limits, the 23 passenger Superbus has a ground clearance of 40cm so it can be driven over speed bumps without problems. But as soon as the Superbus is on a motorway, it can be lowered to a ground clearance of 7cm, keeping the aerodynamic drag to a minimum while allowing the vehicle to travel as fast as 250km/h. On a single charge, the vehicle has a driving range of 210km.