Expanding the availability of micro-vehicles in Europe. . .

By Gary S. Vasilash

While lots of OEMs talk about being a “mobility provider” rather an ancient “car company,” Nissan is proving itself to be one.

It has announced it is expanding its partnership with a company that makes micromobility vehicles, such as a small EV and electric motorcycle, ACCIONA.

Nissan has added the UK to countries that it has distribution and service rights to the ACCIONA Silence product line. The other countries are Italy, France and Germany.

Gareth Dunsmore, Managing Director e-Micro Mobility at Nissan AMIEO, said, “By opening access to Silence’s diverse range of alternative products, we are easing the EV transition by combining clean mobility with cutting-edge technology, in functional and flexible vehicles.”

The S04 Nanocar is designed for city use.

It measures 90 inches long, 50 inches high, and 62 inches wide. The S04 seats two. It is powered by a 14-kW motor. It is said to have a top speed of 53 mph, which is arguably something that will only be reached by some daredevils given the diminutive size of the vehicle.

It is powered by two batteries that provide 5.6-kW and can be readily removed and transported with a hand truck to a place where they can be replaced with charged batteries.

There is also a battery subscription service, so rather than buying the vehicle with the batteries are swapped on an as-needed basis, which is said to reduce the overall price of an S04 by up to 40%. (The base model has an MSRP of £14,614.)

What’s notable—and laudable—about this is that Nissan could have undoubtedly made its own micro-vehicles.

Yet there is evidently a recognition that there are already companies like ACCIONA making these vehicles so a partnership can provide mutual benefit between the two companies, as well as for the consumer.