JCDECAUX launches portable batteries for electric bikes
JCDECAUX has introduced portable, personal batteries for its electric bike share system. Users can charge the batteries at home or work, with each providing approximately 10 km of range.
JCDECAUX, a provider of urban bicycle hire services, has implemented a new system for managing electric bicycle batteries. The company has chosen to use portable, personal batteries instead of integrated ones, allowing users to recharge them at their convenience, such as at home or the workplace.
This new battery solution is designed to be compatible with JCDECAUX's existing bicycle stations without requiring significant modifications. This approach minimizes the need for new public infrastructure. The batteries are also compatible with stations powered by solar panels.
The portable batteries ensure that users can rely on their rented bicycle being powered. Each battery provides approximately 10 kilometers of assisted travel, which the company states is four times the average route length. Previously, the need to charge bicycles at stations could cause delays.
These individual batteries also enable connectivity with smartphones through an app. Users can track their journeys, monitor battery life, and customize the level of assistance. Via Bluetooth, the battery can also transmit a light signal to notify users of new messages.
JCDECAUX developed the battery in partnership with a French small and medium-sized enterprise specializing in industrial batteries. The company states that software integration and hybrid functionalities were developed in-house.