Washington DC launches solar-powered docking stations

Solar canopies have been installed at four of Washington DC’s public Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) docking stations as part of a pilot to rely on sustainable energy sources.

The pilot is funded through a US$375,000 grant from the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) and aims to increase sustainable mobility options and “enable a transportation shift away from single occupancy vehicles”, according to the city’s District Department of Transportation (DDOT).

“At DDOT, we are innovation leaders. We are excited to be at the forefront of integrating renewable energy into our bike-sharing infrastructure,” said Sharon Kershbaum, DDOT Director.

“This project represents a significant step towards making CaBi even more sustainable and efficient. We believe these solar panels will not only power our e-bikes but also serve as a model for other cities looking to green their transportation systems.”

How it works

Working in partnership with Lyft, the charging stations are part of a broader initiative by the DDOT to electrify 20-30 percent of CaBi stations.

Currently, e-bike batteries are swapped out with freshly charged batteries from the grid at the CaBi warehouse, with greenhouse gas emitting vehicles used for deliveries.

By electrifying stations, DDOT says it will cut down on the distance the vehicles have to travel.

The solar panels, manufactured by SkyHook Solar, are expected to generate enough energy to recharge CaBi’s electric bikes directly at the stations, and each station can support up to 50 docks and can charge six bikes at the same time at full power.

The pilot will run for one year before a decision is made on expansion across the city.

Image: Leeann Cafferata (Flickr)