With greater tensile strength than steel, bamboo is becoming a material of choice for many innovative and eco-friendly products. Its sustainability and versatility also make it an increasingly popular material for designers.
Proof of the versatility of bamboo is the Green Falcon, an electric motorcycle produced by Banatti. The marine-lacquered bamboo bodywork and the sleek, falcon beak-shaped front are a perfect showcase of bamboo’s natural characteristics and Filipino craftsmanship.
The Green Falcon made its debut at Bamboo Extreme, an exhibit organized by the Design Center of the Philippines, which shone the spotlight on many boundary-pushing products using bamboo. The exhibit was in line with the Design Center’s mandate to improve the range, quality, and competitiveness of Philippine products.
The Green Falcon is the brainchild of Chris Lacson, chief executive officer and design director of Banatti. The company name was derived from the word “banat,” a favorite expression of Filipino drivers which means “speed up.”
Also part of the design and production team are body sculptor Eduardo Cañete, prototype engineer Jess Alimbo, and Milo Naval and his team of bamboo craftsmen.
Lacson said the team had the environment and the country’s transport needs in mind in developing the first-of-its-kind electric motorcycle. The two-wheel vehicle, powered by electricity, is suited for the clogged streets of Metro Manila. Its top speed of 60 kilometers per hour is the speed limit in the metropolis.
Lacson and his team hope to take advantage of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ plan to plant bamboo on 15,000 hectares of land under the agency’s National Greening Program.
After the Green Falcon, the team said they want to create more products using bamboo, including a bamboo jeepney. They hope the bike will be the first of many innovative Filipino products that will have a positive impact on everyday life.
The Green Falcon was also featured in trend forecasting agency WGSN’s report, “Reengineering Nature.” It has gained traction in local and international media for the innovative use of bamboo.