Nissan has announced a new electrified vehicle partnership with Silence, a leading European brand specialising in micro-mobility, with the aim of offering urban drivers more affordable entry-level electric vehicles.

Under the terms of the agreement Nissan will distribute Silence Nano S04 quadricycles and e-motorcycles through its European retail network with sales commencing in France and Italy from June 2024 and Germany from September 2024.

A statement from Nissan sad the partnership stemmed from its recently released business plan dubbed ‘The Arc’, which, among other things, proposed new strategic partnerships to drive business growth and accelerate the company’s transition to EVs.

The deal means Nissan customers in Europe will be able to access a range of Silence-designed and engineered products, starting with the popular SO4 Nanocar.

There’s more than a hint of the pioneering Smart Car about the S04 Nanocar’s styling, which is understandable given that the Smart was also conceived as a specialist urban commuter for densely populated European cities.

However, where the original 1998 Smart City-Coupe was powered by a conventional petrol engine, the compact and lightweight Silence SO4 is electrically powered via two 5.6kWh batteries.

The batteries are claimed to offer quick and convenient charging options, including direct charging, home or office charging through a removable battery pack and battery swapping at dedicated stations.

Available in two variants, the Silence SO4 L6e and L7e, each boasts an electric-powered range from 149km (L7e) to 175km (L6e), with top speeds reaching 45km/h (L6e) and 85km/h (L7e).

Although slow by Australian standards, Nissan said this was ideal for the sort of daily commutes many European drivers experienced.

The S04 Nanocar also comes equipped with an app that gives customers access to a range of digital services, including keyless entry, location tracking, monitoring of range and battery charge status.

It also allows customers to share access to their vehicle without the need for swapping keys.

Silence was established in 2012 with the aim of creating an electric vehicle that could break infrastructure and pricing barriers and was acquired in 2021 by ACCIONA, a global company with an Australian presence and a business model based on sustainability.

Silence vehicles are made in Barcelona, Spain, and include a range of e-scooters and the S04 Nanocar S4, which is pitched as “the only electric car with removable and exchangeable batteries”.

Senior Vice-President Marketing & Sales at Nissan AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe & Oceania) Leon Dorssers said the company aspired to give its customers access to new mobility solutions, with a greater diversity of choice, and to lower the barrier to entry for EVs.

“Through this significant new partnership with ACCIONA, we're ensuring that many more people can experience the power and excitement of electric mobility and take the first step on their EV journey,” Mr Dorssers said.

“Opening access to Silence's diverse range of brilliant, alternative products creates new and exciting possibilities for customers who are eager to join the EV revolution – combining clean mobility with cutting-edge technology, in functional and flexible vehicles."

CEO of ACCIONA's mobility business and Silence Carlos Sotelo said the needs of drivers in today's towns and cities were changing, as were their attitudes to mobility and what constituted a realistic and efficient way for them to get around urban areas.

“To respond to this, we need to think smarter, smaller and lighter. Silence's light electric vehicles (EV), partnered with Nissan's strong distribution network, offers new, exciting, and clever options for urban mobility in Europe, shaping a more sustainable future," Mr Sotello said.

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