ULVAC has developed and launched a battery charging system for power-assisted bicycles by integrating a small wind power generator and a solar power generator, as renewable energy sources, and a battery charger in Japan.. ULVAC will be installed the power-assisted bicycle charging station, named the “Hybrid Cycle Pit,” beside the baseball field in Chigasaki City Park. Chigasaki City will put the charging station into service in July 10, 2011. The newly installed power-assisted bicycle charging system is composed of a 1.6 kW solar power generator, a small 1.0 kW wind power generator (upwind, horizontal axis, propeller type), a battery pack containing a lithium-ion secondary battery, a charging and discharging control system, and a battery charger. The solar power generator has eight solar cell modules on the canopy of the battery charger in which bicycles are placed. With the ability to generate power from both solar and wind energy, and to store power in the secondary battery, this system enables stable charging of batteries for power-assisted bicycles with clean power.
This system can charge the batteries of up to five power-assisted bicycles, and a total of ten bicycles a day. The Hybrid Cycle Pit charging system developed, launched, and installed by ULVAC, is based on the integration of the company’s small wind power generation, solar power generation, storage, and charging technologies. In July 10, 2011, in the presence of Mayer Nobuaki Hattori of Chigasaki City, President Hidenori Suwa of ULVAC, and other persons concerned, a ceremony will be held from 10:00 a.m. to mark the opening of the “Hybrid Cycle Pit” charging system for power-assisted bicycles beside the baseball field in Chigasaki City Park.