It is only in Bond movies that we are used to vehicles that convert into airplanes, robots, motorcycles and boats. Well, some will just remain in the movies for the moment but there are vehicles that turn into boats. Meet the Amfibus. This bus can move on land and on water. It has been adapted so. And yes, it is not reserved for the super rich. Its is for regular tours in New York.
In water and on land
Image source: leytr.blogspot.com
It is not everyday that you come across a bus that can ride safely on the road and then float on rivers and whatever water body that might be separating towns. The Amfibus was a replacement of the Renfrew Ferry that was operating on River Clyde. The good part about the bus is that it can pick up passengers on land and drop them on a location they can easily walk out. It is not the fact that it can cross the river that is amazing, it is the fact that it can shift from being a normal bus to a comfortable boat in seconds.
The Amfibus was manufactured by the Dutch Amphibious Transport Vehicles BV, Nijmegen. The production did not go mass as of 2009, only one was produced. However, the future is looking bright for the swimming bus.
The body is shaped like a regular bus and would pass for a modern coach on the streets, but for its amphibious underpart. The vehicle was installed with a Volvo DH12E 6 cylinder engine to achieve up to 97 kilometers per hour on the road. The bus was constructed to handle road rides and float efficiently on water, without danger or risk. It uses water jets for propulsion on water. It can achieve up to 8 knots or 15 km/h.
An aquatic vehicle that can transform in under ten seconds
Image source: www.centralcontracts.com
Make no mistake about it, but the amfibus is very popular. It is used for tours around New York City as well as on River Clyde. The excursion is very memorable and this is the reason behind the popularity with tourists. Tourists in the Amfibus can sit back and relax while they take a tour around the city without necessarily boarding a bus, alighting, boarding a boat or ferry across the river and then back to the bus.
Technology is fast making things easier for our generation and the Amfibus is good proof that things will get better in the near future. We can expect flying cars and transforming vehicles soon. Since the vehicle and boat in one was just a concept in movies but is now a reality, we will soon be seeing more wonders. Anyway, the Amfibus is a great invention and one that is worth a ride when you go to New York City.
