Spanish e-mobility company Silence has opened up its "urban eco-mobility" headquarters in Solihull in the West Midlands as it helps to develop the area into a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing.
Silence is set to introduce their range of all-electric motorcycles to the UK market after a successful campaign in its native Spain. Credit: Silence
The area has seen significant development in recent years as a leader in electrification and green travel within the UK as part of the West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) initiative to drive economic development in the idea.
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The authority's guidelines are laid out in a strategic economic plan supported by the EU. It has emphasised the need to extend the use of the wide set of innovation infrastructures already available in the region to more businesses, especially to innovation inactive ones.
This also pushes for increased infrastructure towards climate-aiding projects. The report claims the area contains some of the driving innovators for research and development in the furthering of environmental goals.
The West Midlands is also looking to pioneer a plan for a Clean Air Zone this summer when the city of Birmingham is set to launch its vehicle charging scheme aimed at reducing emissions in the area, particularly from petrol and diesel vehicles in the city centre.
This makes it only the second city in the UK, behind Bath, to adopt this policy.
“Solihull makes the perfect location for investment, in the first phase of our launch and establishment of our UK headquarters," said John Edwards, a founding member of Silence's UK arm. "Not only is the West Midlands already a hub for electric vehicle businesses and research, but its leaders are focused on eco-mobility and infrastructure."
Vehicles driving in a Clean Air Zone may need to pay a small fee should their vehicle fail to meet certain emissions targets.
Users can find out beforehand by registering their vehicle with a government service.
Councillor Ian Courts, the leader for Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council said the investment shows confidence in the region as a potential hub for "low-carbon activity."
He added: “Transport currently accounts for 39% of Co2 emissions across the borough. Tackling this area is going to be key to unlocking our low carbon future and achieving our net-zero carbon aspirations for the region by 2041.”
Silence has opened its flagship UK retail store on Haslucks Green Road in town, covering an area of over 700 square miles.
The company are set to specialise in all-electric motorcycles and scooters, called "e-motos." It claims these are equivalent to 50cc and 125cc mopeds and scooters and can travel 91 miles on a single charge.
Silence's Solihull retail outlet. Credit: Silence
It will serve both retail and business customers, with the full UK range of Silence e-moto models available for test rides.
Other stores are set to open up in Manchester and London at later dates to allow the company to cover a wider area.
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Dan Storer, the Chief Investment Officer at the West Midlands Growth Company, who is the automaker's official promoter in the region, described its entrance as playing a "strategic moment" for the area's evolution and growth towards becoming a green hub.
"Building on a robust legacy of spearheading transport innovations, our region has a rigorous proposition to supercharge the future mobility ambitions of industry and Government," he added.
Electric vehicle markets are continuing to grow exponentially in the UK.
The two-wheel EV market grew by 50% in 2020 and is almost up 300% in the first half of 2021 and by 550% in April alone, the company claims.
It also claims these changes are being adopted across the consumer and business markets.
This may be aided by the UK's decision last year to ban all fully-petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. The UK is also set to raise its emissions targets ahead of the COP26 summit this November.
Lightweight travel has also seen a boom during the pandemic, particularly for delivery services.
Reports claim that commuters are also choosing greener travel methods or outright choosing to work from home to save on their carbon footprints as part of an increasing trend towards conscious consumption as a result of the pandemic.
Read more: The pandemic has increased "conscious consumption" habits
Data from the University of Oxford also hints that making a switch towards "micro-mobility" services such as bicycles or electric motorcycles can reduce individual carbon emissions by as much as 84%. The research suggests the average reduction for switching to greener transport methods can reduce average emissions by around 67%.
John Edwards added that the combined issues of urban air quality, congestion and cost are accelerating demand for smaller, affordable electric vehicles have driven up demand for electric vehicles, stating the West Midlands was "the right place to start."
He said: “We look forward to helping larger West Midlands businesses transform their fleet operations as well as supporting local independent operators such as restaurants and delivery riders to go electric."
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