Abstract: A low floor electric bus is provided. The bus includes a frame extending longitudinally from a front end to a rear end, the frame having two sidepieces and a plurality of crossmembers extending between and coupled to the sidepieces, wherein the frame has a central section positioned at a lower height relative to the front and/or rear sections. The bus further includes a battery pack mounted to the central portion of the frame; a powertrain having an electric motor and a driveshaft, wherein the electric motor is mounted to the rear section of the frame behind a rear axle coupled to the frame and the driveshaft extends from the electric motor to the rear axle; and a cradle coupled to the front section of the frame. A mixed-material cabin is also provided. The cabin includes a passenger cabin with a floor, sidewalls, and ceiling having steel, ceramic, and composite components.

Abstract: A method of making a natural fiber composite panel includes extracting bamboo fibers from bamboo and embedding the extracted bamboo fibers in a polymer matrix material. The bamboo includes bamboo fibers and lignin, and the step of extracting includes mechanically scraping the bamboo fibers to remove at least some of the lignin. In some cases, the bamboo is steamed, soaked in water, soaked in an acidic solution and/or soaked in an alkaline solution before mechanical scraping.