Big Street Bikers opens Rechargery 2.0 in Auckland

Auckland Big Street Bikers’ second solar powered electric bike Rechargery has been officially opened by Auckland councillor Chris Darby in Aotea Square.

Scores of people helped celebrate the event with Big Street Bikers (BSB) co-founder Andrew Charlesworth, trying out the many e-bikes available.

Also on display was a new lockable bike park made by Bikeep with an e-bike charging port which is expected to go in about 100 suitable locations around the city.

It’s popular in Europe and has been brought in by BSB which will rename it “Bikestop”.

People can lock and unlock their bikes in the sturdy stand by swiping their Hop card or using a BSB app, the Bikestop available free for short-term bike parking.

The Rechargery 2.0 is covered in mirrors and pink lightning bolts with a solar panel array on the roof.

It’s completely off the grid and powers a fleet of electric bikes for people to try running solely on sunshine.

“Electric mobility is changing how people approach commuting,” a founder of Big Street Bikers Matt Weavers says.

BSB and Mercury joined forces at the beginning of the year, launching New Zealand’s first Rechargery on the edge of the waterfront at Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, proving a success with thousands of people riding an e-bike over the past year.

Rechargery 2.0, which also involves Mercury and the Auckland City Council, will be in Aotea Square until late December when it will move to another part of the city.