Development and Evaluation of a Laminated Bamboo Frame for Electric Scooters

This study presents the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a hybrid electric scooter frame constructed from laminated Gombong bamboo and aluminium. The objective was to address environmental concerns in personal mobility by reducing reliance on high-carbon materials and improving battery safety. A CAD-based design was executed in Autodesk Inventor using bamboo beams for primary structure and aluminium joints for mechanical stability. Laminated bamboo was processed through drying, chemical treatment, and gluing. Mechanical properties were evaluated via tensile and compressive tests, achieving a tensile strength of 289 MPa. A 72V lithium-ion battery pack composed of 18650 cells was assembled with BMS integration. The resulting prototype exhibited a total frame weight of 4.8 kg and a 30 km range per charge. Laminated bamboo proved structurally viable, outperforming many woods and plastics while rivalling light metals. The combined use of low-impact materials and clean energy systems advances the discourse on green transport. These results validate laminated bamboo's potential in structural applications and support broader adoption of eco-conscious design in urban mobility.