powerPOD: Solar powered e-bike charging and storage at Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve

Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve, part of The Broads National Park in Suffolk, is now home to a new way of exploring one of the most beautiful parts of the country without a car. The site has installed secure, lockable e-bike storage with integrated solar-powered e-bike charging from Intelligen’s powerPODs.

Funded by the Department for Transport and Connected Places Catapult, and delivered in partnership with The Broads Authority, the project makes it easier than ever for locals and visitors to travel actively, store their bikes safely, and keep e-bike batteries topped up, all without using a single watt from the grid.

The reserve already draws walkers, cyclists, and wildlife enthusiasts, but e-bike riders faced a common problem - no dedicated safe e-bike charging or secure cycle storage. Without this, many cut visits short or travelled by car. The challenge was to provide lockable bike storage, off-grid e-bike charging points, minimal installation impact on sensitive wetland habitats and a low-maintenance solution. 

Intelligen’s powerPOD combines lockable cycle lockers with integrated solar-powered e-bike charging points. At Carlton Marshes, as at every site on the network, each unit is made from 90% recycled wood-plastic composite - weatherproof, corrosion-free, and designed for minimal maintenance.

Key Features for Carlton Marshes:

• 100% solar-powered e-bike charging – no ongoing electricity bills
   
• Secure, lockable e-bike storage for all kinds of bikes, e-bikes, and mobility scooters
   
• Minimal concrete footprint protecting the marshland ecosystem
   
• User-friendly digital access via the JNPR webapp
   
• Data reporting to monitor usage, solar generation, and ROI