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Spotted: Woodworker Evie Bee published two books detailing the process she undertook in designing and building her electric bicycle, Electraply. The name is a play on the words electric and plywood, with the majority of the bike made from sustainably sourced poplar ply. Birch ply is used for visual aesthetics on the outside of the bike.  

A 26-inch front wheel motor and 36-volt battery power the bike. A fan of the iconic scrambler motorcycle design, Bee was inspired to combine her love of the old design with the mechanics and materials of the modern day. Bee is focusing her studies and career on coppicing, and, with projects like the Electraply, is finding ways to merge a dedication to caring for forests with the creative skills she honed while working as a film set model maker.  

From treehouses to a wooden tape measure and a wooden iron giant, Bee’s portfolio is varied, and she writes about her fast-growing interest in sustainable woodworking. Aware that very few people share the same level of woodworking skills, Bee is planning to start soon a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in order to offer commercial versions of the e-bike.  

Traditional approaches and materials are being rediscovered and used in modern-day buildings, with Springwise spotting everything from ancient bricklaying techniques that cool a structure to modern takes on the traditional root cellar.  

Written by: Keely Khoury

Explore more: Sustainability