Sanyo has combined three cool things I like into one, easy to use package: solar power generation, bike share, and electric bikes. This is so amazing I think my head will explode.

Sanyo recently installed two electric bike share stations in Japan at train stations in Tokyo. 100 Sanyo “Enelooop” e-bikes at each station are available for community use. 7.5kw photovoltaic panels mounted over the bike station charge the bike batteries when they’re stored in their kiosks at the bike station.

Update: Akihabara News has photos and video of the Sanyo bike parking grand opening. Now that I’ve seen a 100 pedelec bike share station, my had has exploded, so please excuse me while I clean up the mess.

The city of Setagaya in Tokyo operates these bike share stations at Keio Line Sakurajosui Station and Tokyu Den-en Toshi Line Sakurashinmachi Station. The solar panels generate sufficient power to recharge the batteries of a total of 100 “eneloop bike” units and illuminate the LED parking lot lights. According to Sanyo, the bike share station is capable of operating completely off-grid to minimize CO2 emissions in Japan. The e-bike parking lot is a demonstration of Sanyo’s “Smart Energy Systems” program, combining technologies for Energy Creation (photovoltaic system), Energy Storage (lithium ion rechargeable battery), and Energy Saving (scaling these systems in a commercially viable way).

More –> Sanyo press release: “SANYO Completes Installation of Solar Parking Lots in Setagaya, Tokyo”

See also:

1. Solar Man folding eBike
2. Sanyo Eneloop electric bicycle
3. Hydrogen powered electric bike
4. Amsterdam hits roadblocks in electric car promotion