28 January 2021
Urban ecomobility business, Silence, the largest specialist electric vehicle manufacturer in Europe, has appointed the AA to provide breakdown cover for its zero emission models as part of a UK launch package. In what is thought to be the first offer of its kind, the Silence family of e-moto scooters comes complete with two years’ award-winning AA UK roadside breakdown cover.
With the UK electric scooter market having grown around 50% in the past year, and an expected shift in commuting patterns because of COVID-19, the AA is further increasing its levels of support for electric vehicles. A 2020 AA Yonder Driver Poll* suggested eight in ten people would change their behaviour, including reducing driving and increasing active travel, to maintain air quality post-lockdown.
John Edwards, one of four founders of Silence UK, comments: “With the launch of the Silence family of class-leading electric moto scooters, we wanted to ensure a wrap-around service for consumers and companies to keep them safe and mobile. That’s why we’ve partnered with the AA for what we believe to be the first e-moto breakdown assistance partnership in the UK.”
Donald MacSporran, Director of Vehicle Manufacturer Services at the AA, adds: “We are delighted to be providing Silence UK and its customers with assistance at the roadside in the unlikely event they need it. Our extensive experience with motorbikes, coupled with continued investment in EV technologies, means we are able to provide a repair and customer service which will keep Silence UK e-moto customers mobile and safe.”
The agreement with Silence UK follows a year in which the AA has continued to invest in and expand its support for EV drivers. Through it’s contact centre support, the AA has attended more than 5,000 electric charging posts nationwide, as well as attended in excess of 13,000 roadside electric vehicle callouts. While this is a small fraction in comparison to ICE vehicles (3.2 million), this figure is growing rapidly as we move towards 2030, the government’s date for electrification. DriveTech, part of the AA, has also pioneered an online driving school to inform and protect e-scooter riders.
* There were 18, 129 responses to the May 2020 AA Yonder survey between 12 and 19 May 2020