Remember Silence? If you don’t, that’s okay; there are many electric scooter companies in the world.
However, not all of them offer removable batteries. Even fewer have a unique transport system to help owners carry their batteries to the charging station without the need for muscular effort due to their unusual weight. Because of this unique design, I think there’s a good chance you’ll remember the Silence scooters if you’ve seen them before.
The Spanish company teamed up with car manufacturer Seat in 2019, which marked the first time the micro-mobility company had collaborated with a car manufacturer. It wouldn’t be the last, however. Towards the end of April 2024, Nissan officially announced its new partnership with Silence; or rather, the company’s parent company, Acciona.
The agreement will see Nissan distribute a new Silence electric vehicle that isn’t a two-wheeler at all. It’s called the S04 Nanocar and, at first glance, it bears at least a passing resemblance to a Smart ForTwo. However, the Silence S04 Nanocar is fully electric and will be able to take advantage of the battery exchange stations that will be installed in the markets where it is sold.
The S04 will join the other Silence electric scooters in the company’s range, which will now be distributed at Nissan dealerships in selected markets in Europe.
From June 2024, Nissan and Silence will offer Silence electric scooters and mini cars at dealerships in France and Italy. From September 2024, they will also be available in Germany.
In Spain, Silence claims to already have more than 110 locations where its battery exchange stations are available. The current plan is to see this number increase to at least 160 locations by the end of 2024.
Vehicles like these seem to be able to work well in built-up city environments, where life is lived in a more compact space. If you add a site with too much sprawl, practicality seems to be more difficult, but congested cities seem ideal for solutions like these.
Uniquely, Silence also offers owners the option of participating in its batteries-as-a-service subscription plan.