Oberried BE – The Swiss Bike Park and bike producer Thömus operate a battery charging station whose power is generated with discarded batteries. Researchers from the Center for Energy Storage at the Bern University of Applied Sciences are involved in the pilot project.
In a research project, a sustainable battery charging module was developed at the Swiss Bike Park Oberried. According to a media release from the Bern University of Applied Sciences, the park uses retired battery elements from bicycle manufacturer Thömus to charge the batteries of its e-bike fleet. Using electricity produced on site from a photovoltaic system, eight of these elements are charged in a box, and then in turn charge the batteries of the e-bikes again at night.
With the prototype developed, the spent batteries are given a second life cycle. On the one hand, the project enables the sustainable use of valuable raw materials that were built into the batteries and are otherwise difficult to recycle. On the other hand, the e-bike test fleet of the Swiss Bike Park Oberried is powered by 100 percent renewable energy.
In addition to the Swiss Bike Park and Thömus AG, the development partners of the pilot project include researchers from the Center for Energy Storage at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, the Swiss Battery Technology Center at the Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne and the company Integrated Power Solution AG.
The project could be realized with the financial support of the Foundation for Culture, Society, Education and Science of the Building Insurance Bern, the real estate services company Petrusso AG(Bricks Group AG) and the gas station chain Gustoil. ww
