The canton of Uri now offers 16 official SwitzerlandMobility bike routes along 550 kilometers of trails in all parts of the canton for mountain bikers, with or without an electric motor on board, and there is good news for e-mountain bikers in Uri: The "E-Bike-Land Uri" project, launched by IG Bike Uri, aims to install 32 charging stations along the bike routes in Uri and on the borders with Schwyz, Ticino and Nidwalden as well as in the Uri valley floor - at least one in every municipality in Uri.

The IG is relying on charging stations from "bike-energy" in Austria. As an official distribution partner of "bike-energy", Elektrizitätswerk Altdorf (EWA) AG has already installed several such charging stations: for example at the new Raiffeisenbank Schächental building in Bürglen or at the new Alpenkiosk in Bristen. The advantage of the "bike-energy" charging stations is that all you need is a charging cable that is compatible with the battery, which can be purchased or borrowed from the station on site - and you can start charging, says Iwan Imholz, Head of Energy Sales at EWA and initiator of the project

There are currently more than 10,000 "bike-energy" e-bike charging stations throughout Europe, and the trend is rising. There are currently 100 in Switzerland, and the neighbouring canton of Ticino and the Surselva tourist region have already implemented a comprehensive network of "bike-energy" charging stations.

Canton and site operators recognize added value

The IG Bike Uri is convinced that the project offers a great opportunity for the canton of Uri and added value for locals and tourists. "An e-bike charging station at a hotel or alpine inn acts as a tourist magnet," says Ursi Aschwanden, project manager and president of IG Bike Uri. A full battery charge costs the charging station operator between 5 and 8 centimes. "But while they are charging their two-wheeler battery, e-bikers can enjoy a coffee or a lunch menu in a pub. This ultimately generates additional revenue for the charging station operator."

With these arguments, the initiators of "E-Bike-Land Uri" have already won over 22 of the 32 proposed location operators. The federal government and canton have also already pledged support for the project as part of the new regional policy (NRP). Thanks to these NRP funds, the EWA as the main sponsor and other sponsors and benefactors that are still being sought, the site operators can purchase the charging stations at a preferential price. Implementation of the project is planned for next spring, meaning that the first tours through the "e-bike country of Uri" will be possible from the next snowmelt.

Source: Press release

www.bike-uri.ch