A Spanish company called Silence presented the S04, their first fully electric quadricycle which complements their range of S01, S02, and S03 e-scooters. The four-wheeler uses removable, interchangeable batteries as the aforementioned two and three-wheelers, making it a practical solution for zero-emission city driving. The S04 has a compact footprint, with a length of 2.33 m and a width of 1.56 m allowing easy maneuvering and parking on the busy roads of big cities. The design is pretty modern with aggressive LED headlights and black plastic cladding on the integrated fenders and bumpers. Inside there are two seats and a pretty decent 310-liter luggage space. Equipment includes electric windows, air conditioning, and ABS, while keyless entry and start are possible through the user’s smartphone.
The S04 will be available in two variants
with different power outputs and battery capacities. The first will be
classified as an L6e light quadricycle with an 8 hp electric
motor, a limited top speed of 45 km/h, and a 5.6 kWh battery. This
segment allows the S04 to be driven with a moped’s license from the age of 15
in Spain. The second variant will be classified as an L7e heavy quadricycle
featuring a 19 hp electric motor which allows for a higher top
speed of 90 km/h. The dual battery with a total capacity of 11.2 kWh
is good for a 149 km range according to WMTC standards (the
homologation used in motorcycles).
In both versions, the batteries are
removable so they can be replaced by fully charged ones at one of Silence’s
battery exchange stations under a monthly subscription of € 20 (US$ 23). The
battery pack is also attached to a trolley so the owner of the S04 can charge
it at home or at work. This feature that was also incorporated by the rival ACM
City One will come in handy for European citizens who live in flats without a
dedicated parking space.
The Silence S04 is designed, developed,
and manufactured in Barcelona, Spain. The company hasn’t revealed an official
market launch date but the first units are rumored to hit the road in mid-2022
with pricing for the base variant to start from around € 7,500 (US$ 8,695). Rival
models in this segment include the Mobilize EZ-1, the Citroën Ami and Opel
Rocks-e siblings, the retro Microlino 2.0, and the ACM City One, among others.
Silence’s e-scooters are also selling
under the SEAT MO urban mobility brand. As a matter of fact, the SEAT MO
eScooter 125 is a rebadged Silence S01, while the SEAT MO eKickScooter 65 is a
Silence S02. This could mean that the upcoming production version of the SEAT
Electric Minimo Concept from 2019 might be closely related to the Silence S04,
although this is just speculation at this point.
