On the cycle path that runs along the Isère and the Vercors, a somewhat special rest area now invites lovers of the little electric queen to recharge the batteries, in the literal sense of the term.
A small wooden station, covered with a solar panel, allows you to plug in your electrically assisted bicycle (VAE) and thus lengthen the walk.
Its designers are based a few pedal strokes away, in Moirans (Isère), where their workshop is running at full speed and employs up to 10 people.
"When we started in 2018, we produced one station per month, now it's one to two per week," rejoices Sylvaine Linden, co-founder of the start-up Ecoload with her husband, Pierre-Marie.
“The idea was born while riding an electric bike in the mountains: we were quickly limited in the duration of use, because the climbs drain the battery a lot.
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This observation is shared with friends, guardians of a refuge in Maurienne and unable to recharge the VAE of their customers.
"There is a real need, especially with the explosion of the electric bicycle market", explains Pierre-Marie Linden, who left his job as a globe-trotting project manager (South Africa, Canada), to create Ecoload.
“But in the middle of the mountains, connection to the network is complicated, so we designed autonomous stations with solar panels and batteries.
They can therefore be used even without sunlight.
The recharge time is the same as at home.
In addition, no building site is necessary.
Just put the station down and ballast it.”
In addition to using solar energy, the entrepreneur couple ensures that they reduce their carbon impact by using local wood and steel.
Their stations are sold from 10,000 euros, with different possible configurations depending on the number of terminals.
The simplicity of the concept appeals to communities and companies beyond the Alps.
This week, a station was thus leaving for the very chic Saint-Tropez.
