, in Setagaya, Tokyo Japan. The Solar Parking Lot is a completely independent and clean system eliminating the use of fossil fuels, and the clean power generated from the solar panels installed on the roof is stored to be used to recharge the electric hybrid bicycle batteries and illuminate the parking lot lights.
For each of the bicycle parking lots operated by the city of Setagaya at Keio Line Sakurajosui Station and Tokyu Den-en Toshi Line Sakurashinmachi Station, HIT solar panels (approximate 46m2, 7.56kW) are installed on the roof to generate sufficient power to recharge the batteries of a total of 100 eneloop bike units and illuminate the LED parking lot lights. eneloop bike is SANYO’s energy recycling electric hybrid bicycle featuring a regenerative charging function that enables electricity generation and battery charging during riding. The 100 eneloop bike units provided at the three locations, including Odakyu Line Kyodo Station, in addition to Sakurajosui Station and Sakurashinmachi Station will be used as community bicycles by a wide range of people residing in and outside Setagaya.
By combining HIT solar panels with lithium-ion battery systems, SANYO’s Solar Parking Lot enables recharging the electric hybrid bicycles without any commercial power source, even at night or on a rainy day. The lithium-ion battery system also features AC power outlets that can be used to power external equipment during an emergency. In addition, the installed system incorporates a DC charger. The DC charger enables photovoltaic energy generated and stored in DC to be used directly and effectively without AC conversion.
While reducing C02 emissions is a great idea, you can do that perfectly well on a regular bicycle and one is left wondering about the environmental impact of all those batteries ...
