Born near Christchurch, Mr Ward (57) has lived in Dunedin for the past 10 years.
He rides an electric bike and helps convert other bicycles with the addition of batteries and electric motors.
And this year, he has been based at the Valley Community Workspace complex in Northeast Valley. The University of Otago’s Otago Energy Research Centre has marked its 10th anniversary by staging, with the Transport Support Network, a two-day, energy-related a symposium, which ends today at the Otago Museum.
During the lunch break at that event yesterday, innovative electrically powered vehicles of various kinds were displayed in a parking area outside the museum.
Mr Ward displayed a recumbent bicycle which he has converted to electric-assist, using battery power.
It was "absolutely fantastic" to take part in the display and help raise awareness about electric bikes, he said.
He noted the use of electric bicycles had recently increased "quite dramatically" in the city.
He had ridden his bicycle many times up the world’s steepest street, Baldwin St, in Northeast Valley, using battery support, which can double the amount of power available, compared with a standard pedal bicycle.
Centre co-directors Drs Michael Jack and Ivan Diaz-Rainey said the symposium had attracted 80 participants, featured several keynote speakers, and was going well.
Dr Jack said some more sustainable forms of energy use were becoming much more popular, including electric-assist bicycles and other electric vehicles, and solar panels on houses.
