New off-grid solar-powered device can charge 12 electric bikes

Beam Global, a company that builds sustainable infrastructure solutions for the transportation industry, today unveiled a new off-grid charging platform designed to provide secure charging for up to 12 electric bicycles.

Known as the BeamBike, the solar-powered platform comprises a canopy with 4.4 kW of solar panels covering a parking area designed to provide a secure locking location for e-bikes. The solar panels charge an internal battery that is connected to a 120VAC inverter powering up to 12 electrical outlets. Battery options of 20, 30, and 40 kWh are available, allowing plenty of stored energy for times when the sun isn’t shining.

Electric bicycle owners can park and charge their e-bikes by bringing their own wall chargers and plugging them into the outlets.

The solution not only provides a convenient location for charging, but also helps solve the issue of indoor charging bans that have become increasingly common, especially in universities and other organizations’ campuses.

Beam is pitching the product for use in transit centers, parks, shopping malls, campuses, bike rental providers, workplaces, civic centers, mixed use communities, event centers, stadiums and amusement parks.

“E-bike adoption continues to grow in every major market. Asia, the Americas and Europe have seen steady growth across consumer, business and government applications,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global.

“Repeated requests from some of our best customers, and the rare but high-profile tragedies of indoor fires caused by e-bikes, inspired us to develop an outdoor e-bike charging solution that can be deployed quickly, relocated when needed and operated independently of the grid. A BeamBike charging system can go just about anywhere an e-bike can go and it’s based upon our tried and tested EV ARC platform so customers rest assured of its quality and efficacy. We have fourteen years of operational experience with the EV ARC product platform. Creating the BeamBike product from EV ARC is part of our strategy to create valuable solutions for larger and broader customer audiences.”

Beam is headquartered in San Diego, California, but already operates in several countries around the world. There’s no word yet on when the new BeamBike product will become active or where it may be put into operation.

However, as more campuses and buildings consider implementing stricter regulations around indoor charging of electric bicycles and e-scooters, products like these are likely to become more common in cities around the world.