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• Silence scooters are now available in South Africa.
• The all-electric scooters have a riding range of up to 149km.
• Several models make up the range, headlined by the S01.
• For more motoring stories, visit Wheels24
There has been significant talk the last month of fuel price possibly breaching R40/litre in South Africa. It is an unsettling thought that is sure to impact many families in more ways than one. Those among us who travel vast distances to our place of work will now also have to contend with the increasing prices.
Just for April, it's speculated that both petrol and diesel prices could increase by as much as R3.26-litre, sending prices to around R23/litre (R17 to go…).
But while it could be that many will opt to work from home to turn their cents around, countless others will not have the luxury to do so, especially those in the delivery services. Think TakeAlot and Checkers, as examples. The delivery teams for these outlets will have to make do with the increasing fuel prices, and hope that their take-home income at the end of a day will cover the basic needs of their families.
It's a brutal and cruel reality, but there might be hope for these delivery teams yet. Welcome, Silence South Africa.
The electric solution
For Silence SA, it was imperative to address South Africa's fuel issues in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. The team realised that fuel prices were going in the wrong direction and that something had to be done. The solution: an electric scooter that can travel at 90km/h and cover a distance of up to 140km.
Brett Levine, one of Silence SA's two directors, told Wheels24: "About a year pre-Covid, Deon (Engelbrecht, co-director) and I chatted about an electric delivery vehicle that can do 90km/h and up to 140km/h of range. Virtually, we then scoured the European market for electric mobility solutions and settled on Silence - simply because of their thoroughbred. The product, the battery swapping, the technology… it was exactly what we were looking for."
Silence SA says that their decision to bring the electric scooters to market was proactive in becoming the first real green two-wheel solution locally. Covid-19, the team says, only accelerated their plans, but they are well on their way to growing their footprint. In 2021, Silence SA imported five scooters for homologation, of which all five passed with flying colours.
Says Engelbrecht: "Going green was and is very important to Brett and me. And even though we are pioneering the electric scooter in South Africa, we felt to rather be the first than the third, and drive the opportunities that can come from this."
According to data collected from real-world conditions usage and conditions in Europe, the scooter's battery will do 150 000km, retaining 85% of its capacity. Silence started in Europe some 10 years ago, and the first bikes are still on the road and used as delivery vehicles.
A new era for delivery vehicles?
Silence SA is very clear on the direction they are heading towards in South Africa, saying that they are targeting the business-to-business sector of the local market. In Europe, for example, 70% of sales are B2B, while the remaining 30% goes to the private customer. Having taken note of the research conducted by Silence over the last decade, the South African arm believes that this direction and approach would serve the delivery service well.
And with the increase in fuel prices, the electric delivery bikes have a cost that's between 50-60% less than the equivalent petrol-powered scooter monthly.
"We are taking a lot of risks to establish the market," says Engelbrecht, "but the time for change is right. We ran the estimates and do believe that we are coming in at the right time."
Silence SA has been in several meetings with some of South Africa's biggest B2B providers, with Checkers currently trialling the S02 scooter in real-world conditions.
The range
The Silence SA line-up consists of three models, headlined by the S01. This bike is the flagship road bike and is powered by a 7kWh battery, of which 5.6kWh is usable. The South African arm claims a top speed of 100km/h and a driving range of 127km/h under full throttle. Three driving modes - Eco, City, Sport - are on offer, each altering the scooter's riding traits.
Having ridden the S01 for a brief moment around the Silence SA premises, it's clear that the S01's power is instantly available. Regenerative braking is a standard feature and activates upon throttle-release and by engaging the right brake handle. The absorption of road undulations is dealt with thanks to hydraulic front and rear shock absorbers.
The remaining scooters are the delivery bikes: the S02, the S02 LS (low speed), and S03 - the latter two will soon become available in South Africa. According to the claimed figures, the S02 LS has a riding range of up to 149km/h.
Each bike is fitted with a removable battery pack with a patented built-in trolley extraction system. Swapping batteries on your e-scooter has never been easier, and the unit can also be used to charge items in and around your home.
