SOUTHLANDERS and visitors to the region will soon be able to hire app-guided e-bikes from The Garage Re-Use Shop at 303 Bond St, Invercargill. The e-bikes, powered by a 300W brushless motor as well as pedals, come with a smart phone which sits in a zip-up pocket attached to the handlebars and hosts a unique touring app.
The app has been created locally for Habitat for Humanity’s e-bike initiative EBikesNZ by Southern Insitute of Technology post-graduate information technology students Hunt Jeong and Alice Lee. Habitat for Humanity Invercargill General Manager Paul Searancke said the app was “like having your own tour guide.” Mr Jeong said languages available with the app so far were English, Mandarin and Korean, and the app’s capabilities will be expanded over time. The app also tracked the e-bikes’ route and whereabouts via GPS to within 2 metres, he said.
The e-bikes have a range of up to 55km. Mr. Searancke said the e-bikes were a fun way for both locals and visitors to enjoy what Invercargill had to offer. Hire costs started at $35 for two hours, he said. The e-bikes are also for sale from $1,950 through the charity’s business, EBikesNZ.
For more information or to book an e-bike experience, go to www.e-bike.kiwi.
