Japanese electronics giant Kyocera announced a turn-key ebike charging station powered with photovoltaic cells.

Kyocera subsidiary KCCS sells the “ソーラーサイクルステーション” — roughly pronounced “Solar Cycle Station” — as a standardized 1.5 x 3 meter panel of solar cells and control station for installation at ebike fleet recharge stations for bike share programs, tourism rentals, and government staff use. To simplify siting and construction, the solar panels are mounted vertically, like a fence, with a south facing site producing optimal power generation of 7.84A at 80VDC for six charging stations. Exclusive of site preparation and other construction costs, the package retails for ¥1.89M, or about US$25,000. Kyocera says they expect to sell ¥300 Million — about US$3 Million — worth of Solar Cycle Stations annually.

The city of Higashiomi, Shiga Prefecture, Japan has piloted these solar powered ebike recharge stations in a municipal bike share project, where about 40 ebikes are available for government staff use.

See also Sanyo’s solar bike charging stations.

Via Akihabara News.