Back to the future: the bamboo, washi electric car
Posted in: car, eco, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS, Today's ChiliWe recently were lucky enough to meet the makers of the Meguru, an electric car made with traditional Japanese crafts and techniques.
Resembling a kind of rickshaw eco car, the Meguru is comfy and looks pretty stylish, in a funky antique sort of way. The main body is iron coated with urushi (lacquer), the flooring made from real bamboo and, most noticeably, the “door” is a fan-shaped washi (Japanese paper).
Developed jointly by Yodogawa Group and Kinki Knives Industries Corporation in Osaka, the makers hope that Meguru will become a hit in traditional towns like Kyoto and Nara. They plan eventually to offer the light vehicle at a cost of around a million yen (c.$10,000).
Its batteries can be powered by ordinary household electrics and a two-hour charge lets you drive non-stop for forty kilometers (about 25 miles). Fairly leisurely in pace, Meguru can still pick up some speed, apparently up to 40 km/h (25mph). The car is actually already registered as a road vehicle and can be driven in public. so keep your eyes peeled!.
On the right is a picture of me enjoying the cushioned seating with the very friendly Kiyonobu Agata-san, one of the people behind the project.
A few years ago a Japanese university developed the BamGoo, a small EV made of bamboo. Could this be the start of a new Back to Japan eco car trend?
Post a Comment