Stylish Bamboo Taxis Hit the Streets of the Phillipines

In the search for a low-cost, fuel-efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly alternative to motorcycles, the mayor of a city in the Philippines recently rolled out two incredible taxis crafted from one of our favorite renewable materials – bamboo! Rustico Balderian, mayor of Tabontabon, has commissioned the construction of two taxis made from 90% bamboo that are powered by coconut biodiesel – take that steel-based cars!

Bamboo is an incredible material – it is rapidly renewable, environmentally friendly, and does not require a ton of processing for it to be incorporated into designs. But did you know that its tensile strength is just as good as that of steel? This remarkable strength makes bamboo a fitting and exceptionally sustainable material for Tabontabon’s new taxis.

Toti Eco 1, bamboo taxi, coconut biodiesel, tabontabon, phillipines, sustainable design, green design, transportation

The two vehicles are called the Eco 1 and Eco 2. The Eco 1 seats 20 people and can run on one gallon of biodiesel for about 80 hours. Eco 2 works just as well, but seats around 8. Both vehicles are made by Tabontabon’s out-of-school youth, 90% of each vehicle is made out of bamboo, and they are covered in traditional Filipino woven mats called banig. Both vehicles are operating today – now if we could only get one in blue.

+ Toti Eco

Thanks to Alex Richards for the tip

8 Comments

Jagadeesh A July 23, 2011 at 2:28 am

Excellent design. More nature friendly. I was in Philippines couple of times. Philippinos are quite innovative.

Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
E-mail: anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com
dsl September 26, 2009 at 12:27 am

tHAT’S pINOY. I am proud to be one.
dsl September 26, 2009 at 12:26 am

BRAVO
dsl September 26, 2009 at 12:25 am

That’s PINOY! I’m so proud of the inventor.
robertgf615 September 19, 2009 at 3:21 pm

Gee!! now I called this one genius way of going green.
Jumpus July 11, 2009 at 5:41 am

They look like the belong at Burning Man.
Rickbischoff July 8, 2009 at 9:40 am

…now thats thinking
in the right direction,
shandells July 7, 2009 at 1:35 pm

I want one of these. When are they coming to the States.