The Aparcaments BSM Network of car parks will feature 13 battery swapping stations for electric cars and motorbikes that take Silence batteries
This strengthens the pilot project launched by BSM and Silence, ACCIONA’s electric vehicle brand, to promote a more sustainable and planned-out approach to urban mobility
BSM and Silence are furthering their partnership to promote sustainable mobility with an agreement that will consolidate and expand the availability of battery-swapping stations in the Aparcaments BSM Network, the city’s largest car park network with a total of 43 sites.
The Aparcaments BSM Network is deepening its commitment to transforming car parks into service hubs that go beyond vehicle parking and adapt to residents’ new habits and needs.
The five-year agreement signed with Silence, ACCIONA’s electric vehicle brand, will triple the current number of battery-swapping stations at Aparcaments BSM car parks, increasing from four to 13 stations. These batteries are exclusively for electric cars and motorbikes that take Silence batteries.
Specifically, the four battery-swapping stations launched in 2023 as part of a pilot project will be reinforced, and nine more will be added in early 2025.
The new battery-swapping stations will be located at the BSM Marquès de Mulhacén, BSM Passeig Maragall, BSM Tanatori les Corts, BSM Plaça del Fòrum, BSM Sant Genís, BSM Rambla Poblenou, BSM Avinguda Gaudí, BSM Mitre-Putxet, and BSM Litoral Port car parks, joining the four car parks that already have one (BMS Cotxeres de Sarrià, BSM Plaça Navas, BMS Gràcia Motos, and BMS Illa Borbó).
At these battery-swapping stations, users who have signed up for Silence’s shared battery system can take a charged battery and leave a depleted one, saving charging waiting time. The Silence app, Battery Station, can be used to find and reserve batteries.
‘This agreement is a step further in transforming Aparcaments BSM into mobility service centres that adapt to and address residents’ new habits and needs,’ says Laia Bonet, first deputy mayor and president of BSM. ‘The agreement with Silence is also a good example of how public-private partnerships help tackle some of the challenges facing e-mobility, such as reducing charging times.’
The head of the Aparcaments BSM Division, Mireia Coma, welcomes the opportunity to carry out a pilot project with Silence. ‘A year on, we have found it to be a win-win for both parties,’ she says. ‘The use of the battery-swapping stations has steadily increased, enabling the establishment of a long-term agreement between Aparcaments BSM and Silence to expand the service to nine more car parks, bringing sustainable mobility options to as many people as possible.’
‘The locations offered by Aparcaments B:SM are unbeatable for users of battery-swapping stations in Barcelona,’ says Pepe Martí, head of Battery as a Service at Silence, who also highlights ‘the convenience of the service facilities, as well as BSM’s eagerness to work together to provide the best solution for our clients.’
Usage has quadrupled in just over a year
This agreement follows the success of the pilot project launched by BSM and Silence, which enabled the testing and evaluation of these battery-swapping stations within the Aparcaments BSM Network.
In just over a year, the four battery-swapping stations tested have recorded more than 9,500 uses, increasing from an average of 7 daily uses in the first few months to over 25 daily uses in recent months. This exponential growth demonstrates the public’s interest in electric vehicles, particularly in this battery subscription system.
Aparcaments BSM, leading the way in new urban mobility
The aim of BSM is to improve people’s quality of life by creating positive experiences to build a healthy and pioneering Barcelona. One of its goals is to contribute to the shift towards a more sustainable, planned-out, connected and shared approach to mobility.
The company is currently in the process of gradually transforming the car parks in its network into spaces that go beyond vehicle parking to include new urban mobility services and solutions, always with users in mind.
These changes, all of which are based on digitalisation and the use of new technology, reflect new social habits and needs related to the transition to e-mobility and the expansion of new forms of personal mobility.
