Albany Law School Clinic Assists Launch of Wireless Charging for CDPHP Cycle! Bikeshare in Amsterdam

A new, first-in-the-nation electric transportation option is now available in one Capital Region city, thanks, in part, to the team at the Community Economic Development Clinic within the Edward P. Swyer Justice Center at Albany Law School.

A Universal wireless charging station for CDPHP Cycle! Bikeshare’s electric bikes was recently unveiled in Amsterdam, NY with the hope to add many more around the Capital Region—and beyond. 

re:Charge, a NY-based company developing a universal wireless charging solution for electric bikes and scooters, collaborated with the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), CDPHP Cycle! bikeshare’s owner, with Shared Mobility, Inc, the bike share operator, Drop mobility, the bikes provider, and the city of Amsterdam, NY, the pilot project’s host, to install the charging station. 

This pilot program is the first in the US to use wireless power transfer to charge a shared electric bikes and includes a charging station with four charging docks installed at Mohawk Valley Gateway Park.

“The CEDC teaches our students practical and valuable skills that they can immediately put into action when they hit the legal work force."

Bouget said re:Charge focuses on developing a universal wireless charging solution for electric bikes and scooters, addressing a critical need in the electric micromobility industry, especially in the bike and scooter share industry. The idea was inspired by his background in the wind energy sector and his observation of bike-sharing trends in cities like New York. He recognized the growing importance of electric bikes and the need for reliable charging solutions to enhance user experience.

In 2022, after winning a $50,000 grant from the Innovate 518 competition, Bouget began working with the clinic, which provided invaluable guidance for his startup. The clinic provided legal support, helped navigate complex corporate structures and legal agreements essential for attracting private investors, and executing pilot projects, including the Amsterdam initiative. This partnership with the clinic has enabled re:Charge to stretch their limited resources, allowing them to focus on their technological advancements, Bouget said.

“Having access to Fermín has been so valuable for me. We've developed a personal relationship. I love working with Fermín, and we've had several student teams help us over time. We have been receiving important legal counsel for free, which allowed us to save the few dollars we have to specifically do what we did in Amsterdam, for example,” he said. “If we had to pay for the legal services received from Fermín and the team, we may not have had the money to complete this project in the way we did.”

Prof. Méndez has experience with emerging companies and venture capital has been a lifeline as re:Charge continues to grow and get additional projects out in the field. 

The experience not only helped get the bikes charging, but provided valuable, hands-on experience for clinic students as well. “The CEDC teaches our students practical and valuable skills that they can immediately put into action when they hit the legal work force. We have the added benefit of being able to do well by doing good. By working with companies like re:Charge and founders like Julien, students develop their legal acumen while improving  our community,” Prof. Méndez said.

“Students got to see the role of a legal counsel to a startup. Because I'm a French physicist, I am rather unprepared to navigate the treacherous NYS legal landscape,” he said. “It's actually interesting that people that create companies, like me, come very often from a technical or commercial background, while part of the job of an entrepreneur is to properly set up the legal documents that are key to success. I hope that the students have the opportunity to see how important it is to have people like Fermín and those students help us out.”