'Futuristic' Chinese raised bus prototype gathering dust since test run four months ago

China's futurist prototype for a raised bus which has the ability to drive over cars is now gathering dust in a rusted garage.

After being tested in Qinhuangdao in August, the transit elevated bus (TEB-1) prototype has been problem-plagued.

Testing was abruptly stopped after reports in Chinese state media claimed developers of the "straddling bus" illegally crowdfunded their project and misled investors.

Furthermore, authorities in Qinhuangdao city told People's Daily the much-publicised test run on a 300m stretch of road was performed without their knowledge.

Another issue is that the TEB-1 only allows cars 2.1 metres and lower to travel beneath it. The height limit on most Chinese roads is 4.2m.

Concerns were also expressed that the 100-tonne total weight of the raised bus would be too heavy to travel on China's roads - which have been victim to sinkholes in the past.

Now, the TEB-1 has been left abandoned in the middle of a Hebei city road, covered in dust and sitting inside a rusted garage.

Guards hired to keep watch over the expensive prototype - which was hailed as the future of public transport in the city just four months ago - told a local reporter that it has not been moved in two months.

"The managers from the company have long drifted away, and I am unable to contact them," a guard, quoted by Shanghaiist, said.