Papendrecht's first solar-powered e-bike parking station

On 7 July 2021 alderman Kees de Ruijter opened Papendrecht's first e-bike parking station, on the south side of Burgemeester Keijzerweg at the corner of Jan Steenlaan. It made Papendrecht one of the first municipalities in the Netherlands with this kind of e-bike parking. InfraMarks, Bikeep's Dutch partner at the time, designed and built it around Bikeep e-bike charging docks under a solar roof.

Powered by the sun

Solar panels in the roof make the station's own energy, so e-bikes charge on power produced on the spot. Sensors track how the station is used, along with air quality, energy production and use, battery status and the electricity that goes into charging bikes. The station also offers free Wi-Fi.

How it works

• App or OV-chipkaart. The docks open and lock only with a smartphone or a contactless card such as the OV-chipkaart, the Dutch public transport card.
• Reserve ahead. The Bikeep app shows free docks in real time, and riders can reserve one before they set off.
• Charge while parked. The e-bike charges while it is locked in the dock.

Backed by the province

The province of Zuid-Holland paid part of the cost through a subsidy scheme, and the docks carry its logo. For a cycling country like the Netherlands, where more and more riders switch to e-bikes, a station that both secures and charges the bike is a natural next step.

Local news site Drechtsteden.net covered the opening in Dutch. More on bike parking for cities.