After becoming one of the leading players in the design and local production of electric motorcycles, Silence has decided to deepen its commitment to sustainable mobility with the launch of its first electric car, the S04. Production of the new vehicle is expected to begin before next summer and will take place at Silence's plant in Sant Boi de Llobregat, with the intention of moving it in the future to the hitherto Nissan factory in Montcada i Reixac if its offer is selected in the reindustrialization process.
According to Silence CEO, Carlos Sotelo, the company will invest a total of 30 million euros in launching the production of its new electric car and foresees the creation of between 160 and 400 jobs, depending on the production that is ultimately achieved. During the first year, the company controlled by the Acciona group estimates that it will produce a total of 1,000 electric cars, a figure that is expected to increase to 30,000 annually after five years.
The new car is designed for short trips around the city and its metropolitan area. It has a more powerful version, with a 14 kW motor that can reach a maximum speed of 90 km/h and two batteries with a capacity of 11.2 kWh and a range of 149 kilometers. The less powerful version of the S04 can be driven without a license from the age of 15.
The vehicle has two seats and is not very large, being able to park in both a motorcycle space and a car space, occupying less than half the space. Specifically, it measures 233 centimeters long and 156 centimeters wide. In its rear part, there is space for two suitcases.
While waiting to finalize the last details, Sotelo estimates that the S04 car will be sold for between 7,500 and 12,000 euros, with a lower price for those who buy it without batteries. The batteries, which are the same as those of Silence's motorcycles, are located under the two seats and can be removed, allowing them to be charged at any outlet, either at home or at work, if a charging point is not available. To fully charge each battery, about six hours are required.
For those who acquire the vehicle without the two batteries it needs to circulate, the Barcelona-based company has devised battery exchange stations, where its customers can go to recharge them for a monthly subscription price that will be around 20 euros. When they need to change the battery, they will select the closest station and reserve a new battery. Once there, they will remove the discharged battery from their car ---it will also work for motorcycles---, and replace it with a charged one provided at the station. The exchange will not last more than a few minutes, similar to the time it takes to go through the gas station.
Customers who buy the new vehicle from the Barcelona-based company without batteries will be able to recharge it at battery exchange stations, with a monthly price of around 20 eurosIn a first phase, Silence plans the construction of seven battery exchange stations, which will be located in urban centers.The first is in the new main headquarters of the Barcelona brand, on Córcega street number 293.In Barcelona, there will be two more, which are expected to be in parking lots, workshops or gas stations, while the other four will be in Madrid. These stations are estimated to reduce the costs of acquiring an electric vehicle by 40%.
In the new headquarters, inaugurated this Wednesday with the presence of the president of Acciona, José Manuel Entrecanales, there are also the offices, the technical service and a Silence showroom, spread over three floors. The total area is 4,000 square meters. Acciona, which has a subsidiary focused on mobility, bought the majority stake in Silence at the beginning of this year from investors who had bet on the company in its early days, such as Repsol and Criteria.