Charging E-bikes with the Power of the Sun

A solar-powered e-bike charging station on Galena Street in Aspen.
A solar-powered e-bike charging station on Galena Street in Aspen.

“The e-bikes are a game changer!”

“It’s easy and the e-bikes are fun!”

“More e-bikes. More e-bikes. More e-bikes!”

 

You said it, and WE heard you! This year, WE-cycle launched twice as many e-bikes as in 2021, bringing the fleet total up to 52, class 1 pedal assist bikes. With increased demand for powered-up e-bikes, WE-cycle needed a way to ensure e-bikes could stay charged and readily available. 

Bring in the solar-powered e-bike charging station! During the summer of 2021, in collaboration with Skyhook Solar (a Carbondale-based company dedicated to introducing more solar energy into the transportation infrastructure) and PBSC Urban Solutions (a global bikeshare developer and operator), WE-cycle pioneered the first operational solar-powered e-bike charging stations in the US. This innovation allowed WE-cycle e-bikes to be charged 100% by renewable energy… a definite success. Thanks to investments from RFTA, a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant, the City of Aspen, Town of Basalt, and Pitkin County, the WE-cycle system now features a total of seven solar-powered e-bike charging stations. These stations allow WE-cycle to maintain sustainable e-bike operations and power our e-bike fleet completely with Colorado sun! E-bike charging stations give riders a way to be part of the renewability cycle, too. As WE-cyclers return e-bikes to charging stations, they help ease the pressure on balancers and keep WE-cycle e-bikes rolling. Thank you!

 
Solar-powered E-bike Charging Stations
  • Aspen:
    • Rubey Park Transit Center
    • Aspen Valley Hospital
    • Rio Grande Parking Garage
    • Galena St. | Hyman Ave.
    • Aspen Highlands Base Village
  • Mid-Valley:
    • Basalt BRT Upvalley
    • Willits BRT
 
New to WE-cycle this Year
  • Aspen Highlands Base Village: This solar-powered e-bike charging station, located in the Base Village bus loop, was made possible thanks to a partnership with its station sponsor, the Romero Group.
  • Galena St. and Hyman Ave.: Relocated from its previous spot adjacent to the Armory, and now a solar-powered e-bike charging location, this station, sponsored by the Ute Mountaineer, is a component of the City of Aspen’s Living Lab installation.

 

WE-cycle envisions a transportation landscape that prioritizes environmentally friendly transit, replaces traffic congestion with vibrancy, and demonstrates innovation and leadership. With seven e-bike charging stations, the most of any bikeshare in the country, WE-cycle is raising the bar for a more sustainable, interconnected future. WE encourage you to ride your e-bike to an e-charging station!

 

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