It’s Electric

Adam Rossi was sold on the electric bicycle from the moment he took a swift, smooth ride on one. As he cruised up a hill, he marveled at the combined electric and pedal power that helped him maintain a steady speed without much effort. Typically, e-Bikes use a sensor to measure how much energy is exerted through pedaling, then use solar-generated electric power as a supplement. As an advocate for renewable energy, Rossi liked that, too. His family owns Adam Solar Resources, a solar sales, design, and installation company that assisted, he says, with the first-ever solar-array installation at Pitt, on the roof of Benedum Hall.

That first spin on an e-Bike inspired Rossi (A&S ’05) to establish Adam Solar Rides, a retailer of e-Bikes in Bridgeville, Pa. The Pitt grad wants to bring more of that green, fossil-fuel-free transportation to the Pittsburgh area.

“Electric bikes make sense financially. And they make sense for helping the world,” says Rossi.

Being an advocate for sustainable resources wasn’t always his plan. While at Pitt, the entrepreneur studied film and credits the creative discipline with teaching him “how to wear all hats.” As a small business owner, Rossi acts as graphic designer, social media guru, and photographer, among other things—all while keeping the gears of commerce running smoothly.

Looking ahead, Rossi expects to build Adam Solar Rides into a full-fledged electric vehicle dealership, where he’ll help people zoom toward the future by supplying everything from solar-powered skateboards to electric cars.

This article appeared in the Winter 2017 issue of Pitt Magazine.