A bike shop has come up with an innovative scheme to help e-cyclists charge their batteries en-route.
After installing a 24-hour free e-bike charging system at their shop in Betws y Coed, Beics Betws decided to encourage other businesses to offer a similar service.
With the help of Starfish Designs and their web designer, they came up with a window sticker and website promoting participating venues and are now contacting cafes, pubs, hotels, visitors centres and campsites to encourage them to get involved in creating an e-bike charging network across the UK.
Businesses are able to offer outside or inside battery-charging and to make a charge for the service if they wish.
The average cost of a full recharge is around 10p. The details and locations of participating premises can be found at www.bikewales.co.uk.
Owners Louise Jowett and Graham Tayler realised that despite the huge growth in popularity of e-bikes, no scheme like this exists and councils are slow to install public e-charging facilities.
Louise said: “So far, participation in the scheme has been positive, with several cafes, hostels and pubs already signed up.
“Many businesses we contact would be willing to install outside charging facilities if help with installations costs were available.
“With this in mind, we are also campaigning to try to get governments and councils to give grants to organizations willing to into install outside e-bike charging facilities.”
First to sign up to the network include Provideros café, Llandudno; Lakeside café, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Llangollen Hostel and Yr Hub in Bala. Cafes as far away as the Isle of Wight have agreed to participate.
Louise and Graham are keen to hear of other businesses willing to get involved and want to encourage e-bike riders to start using these facilities as soon as they reopen. For more, contact info@bikewales.co.uk
