ULVAC,
Inc. has developed and launched a battery charging system for power-assisted
bicycles by integrating a small wind power generator and a solar power
generator, as renewable energy sources, and a battery charger. ULVAC will
install the power-assisted bicycle charging station, named the “Hybrid
Cycle Pit,” beside the baseball field in Chigasaki City
Park. Chigasaki City
will put the charging station into service in July 10, 2011.

The
“Hybrid Cycle Pit” charging system was developed, launched, and
installed by ULVAC and is based on the integration of the company’s small wind
power generation, solar power generation, storage, and charging technologies.

The
newly installed power-assisted bicycle charging system is composed of a 1.6 kW
solar power generator, a small 1.0 kW wind power generator (upwind, horizontal
axis, propeller type), a battery pack containing a lithium-ion secondary
battery, a charging and discharging control system, and a battery charger. The
solar power generator has eight solar cell modules on the canopy of the battery
charger in which bicycles are placed. With the ability to generate power from
both solar and wind energy, and to store power in the secondary battery, this
system enables stable charging of batteries for power-assisted bicycles with
clean power. This system can charge the batteries of up to five power-assisted
bicycles, and a total of ten bicycles a day.

The
same system has been installed by ULVAC in the Tsuruminenishi
Community Center in Chigasaki City,
and has been put into service by Chigasaki
City on April 1, 2011.

ULVAC, www.ulvac.co.jp/eng