An electric bike battery storage cabinet in Pingshan District. Photo from Shenzhen Economic Daily

At the southern entrance of the Zhaoshang Garden residential community in Pingshan District, a cabinet with 12 compartments stands alongside traditional charging facilities, next to a row of electric bikes. Ms. Liu effortlessly scanned a QR code on the cabinet March 27, prompting a compartment to open. She then retrieved a battery to replace the depleted one in her electric bike. "It's incredibly convenient. Sometimes, I forget to charge my e-bike. Now, with the battery storage cabinet, I can recharge my bike whenever needed," she said. 

Similar to power banks for mobile devices, these electric bike battery storage cabinets house a battery in each compartment. Users no longer need to endure the lengthy wait of four to six hours for charging; instead, they can simply scan a QR code on the cabinet to access an e-bike battery. Furthermore, a 12-compartment cabinet occupies a mere 2 square meters, saving space and offering flexibility for repositioning. Most importantly, using traditional charging facilities for electric bicycles in densely populated urban areas can pose safety hazards. 

According to the Development and Reform Bureau of Pingshan District, there are currently 153 cabinets spread across 103 locations in Pingshan’s six subdistricts. Plans are underway to install additional electric bike battery storage cabinets throughout the district, enhancing accessibility and convenience for users.