Bamboo electric motorbike a sustainable ride

A green (although brown in colour) electric motorcycle has been developed by Philippines company Meep Inc.

The Green Falcon bike’s bamboo body shell has been developed by Meep’s subsidiary Banatti, which is a derived from a local word meaning to go fast.

Meep chief executive officer Christopher Lacson says Banatti’s first electric motorcycle weighs 6.5kg and can reach about 120km/h, although it’s designed for city use and geared to 96.5km/h – the maximum speed on most local streets.

Christopher Paris Lacson with the Green Falcon on Top Gear Philippines.

It has a range of 43-50km.

Bamboo has a strength comparable with steel, Lacson says. The bike has a double layer laminated with marine epoxy.

Lacson says the government wants 10 million hectares of bamboo planted by 2020 with a Bamboo Extreme Program encouraging innovative uses for bamboo.

Top Gear Phillippines

interviewed Lacson and others about the bamboo bike.