1. The earliest long-distance bus service can be traced back to the "Stephenson Train" in the UK in 1829, but the real modern long-distance bus appeared in the 1930s, about 90 years ago.
2. A standard long-distance bus can generally accommodate 45 to 55 passengers, while the deluxe version of the bus sometimes reduces the number of seats to 30 to 35 to provide more seating space.
3. The average speed of a long-distance bus is between 80 and 100 kilometers per hour, and some high-speed sections can even reach 120 kilometers per hour. This speed is suitable for inter-provincial or long-distance journeys.
4. Generally speaking, the fuel tank capacity of a long-distance bus is about 300 liters, and a tank of fuel can support a driving distance of 1,000 to 1,200 kilometers, which is equivalent to the straight-line distance from Beijing to Shanghai.
5. The total length of most long-distance buses in China is about 12 meters, while the length of double-decker or extended buses in some European countries can reach 18 meters and can carry more than 100 passengers.
6. The tire size of long-distance buses is generally around 22.5 inches. The service life of each set of tires is about 80,000 to 100,000 kilometers, and the cost of tire replacement is about 10,000 yuan.
7. In China, long-distance buses can run continuously for up to 4 hours. Drivers must rotate or stop to rest. The driver's continuous driving time shall not exceed 8 hours. This is a hard rule for traffic safety.
8. Most long-distance buses are equipped with two engines, one is mainly used to drive the vehicle, and the other is used to generate electricity for air conditioning, lighting and other equipment, especially when stable power supply is required during driving.
9. On long-distance buses, seats can usually be tilted back by about 30 to 45 degrees. Some high-end buses provide a larger tilt angle and leg support, allowing passengers to rest semi-lying.
10. Domestic long-distance bus fares are generally determined by the distance of the trip, with a per-kilometer fare of about 0.3 yuan to 0.6 yuan. For example, the fare from Guangzhou to Shenzhen is about 100 yuan.
11. Some luxury long-distance buses are equipped with toilets, but they can usually only accommodate one passenger. The average floor space of each toilet is less than 1 square meter, and there are usually only simple flushing equipment.
12. The temperature in the long-distance bus compartment is usually maintained at around 23 degrees Celsius, but in winter and summer, in order to cope with extreme weather, the power of the air conditioner in the car can be as high as 10 kilowatts.
13. The wireless network provided on some high-end long-distance buses usually has a bandwidth ranging from 10 megabytes to 50 megabytes, which can support multiple people at the same time, but the long-distance signal coverage is not stable, especially in mountainous or remote areas.
14. When the mileage of a long-distance bus reaches 500,000 kilometers, the engine usually needs to be overhauled, and the overall life of the vehicle is about 7 to 10 years. Some well-maintained vehicles can even travel more than 1 million kilometers.
15. Luxury coaches in Europe are usually equipped with catering services, with more than 20 kinds of snacks and drinks available in the car, and you can even order meals, but the catering services in domestic long-distance coaches are relatively simple, basically limited to bottled water and instant noodles.
16. The emission standards of diesel engines used in long-distance coaches usually meet the National V or National VI emission standards, which reduces the exhaust emissions of vehicles by nearly 70% compared with the past.
17. In recent years, due to environmental protection requirements and rising oil prices, some long-distance coach companies have begun to test electric buses. Electric long-distance buses can travel about 400 kilometers on a single charge, but the lack of charging facilities is the main obstacle to their promotion.
18. The luggage compartment capacity of a long-distance coach is about 8 to 12 cubic meters, which can accommodate at least 50 large suitcases. If the coach journey is long, the utilization rate of the luggage compartment is close to 100%.
19. The annual maintenance cost of a long-distance coach is about 30,000 to 50,000 yuan, and the maintenance items include the maintenance and replacement of important components such as the engine, brake system, tires, and air conditioning.
20. Long-distance buses traveling in some plateau areas are usually equipped with special plateau engines. Such engines can maintain stable operation in an environment with thin oxygen and are suitable for high altitude areas above 4,000 meters.
