The founding and the history of Silla Industries could not have happened without innovation. The company began two years ago as a start-up, and they set themselves several goals. First and foremost, to provide a concrete response to the needs of electric car drivers, i.e. the drivers of the future. Secondly, they want to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles as far as possible by tackling one of the most common objections expressed by the public: limited access to the charging network.
For Silla, innovation goes hand in hand with sustainability, a crucially important issue that’s right at the heart of the company’s values. In fact, the entire Solar product range is designed to work in close conjunction with photovoltaic systems, allowing convenient and renewable charging for users who have these.
Interview with Alberto Stecca, CEO of Silla Industries.
Easy Engineering: What are the needs of users on the markets in which you operate?
Alberto Stecca: Private charging, either in homes or semi-public, overturns the basic paradigm. It’s no longer drivers who go to the station while they’re travelling, it’s the charging point that “intercepts” them during their daily activities at work or at home.
So, one of the first criteria met by our solution is the need for ubiquitous charging.
However, innovation allows us to improve the experience of our users in terms of compatibility too. Prism is a universal charger suitable for all vehicles, and it’s easy to install wherever there’s an electricity meter, whether single-phase or three-phase.
Once the most appropriate model has been chosen on the advice of a trusted retailer or installer, Prism can be installed without invasive work and start operating simply.
In addition to availability of charging and adaptability, the economic aspect is also important. Prism Solar can use surplus energy produced by the photovoltaic system to charge the car, without taking electricity from the grid. This means the car can be charged using clean energy that’s self-produced and therefore free.
And last but not least, safety. All the appliances in the Prism range have a high degree of tolerance for outdoor installation (IP rating) and the latest model, the Prism Solar S, features a release module with an integrated shutter.
E.E: How important are innovation and R&D for current and future products?
A.S: Our research and development work is vitally important. To remain competitive in a rapidly-changing market, we have to take strategic and farsighted decisions and stay ahead of the times to develop solutions for our customers.
In the field of advanced mobility and vehicle recharging, for example, there are interesting opportunities in vehicle to technologies (e.g. vehicle to grid, vehicle to home).
This refers to solutions that allow use of the car to expand from a simple means of transport to a resource that can accumulate and exchange electricity from home to grid and vice-versa.
E.E: Which tasks/processes will users find easier and more efficient with your products/solutions because of innovation?
A.S: Digitisation makes charging electric vehicles in the private sphere easier in many different ways.
The entire Solar range comes complete with electronics that allow connectivity, which brings important benefits: first and foremost the ability to manage charging remotely and to programme sessions by means of the dedicated app.
Secondly, it gives access to detailed information about charging sessions carried out, useful in business settings (mainly Horeca) wishing to provide this service for their customers.
Another advantage is the constant updating of software. This means users can count on an intelligent and future-proof device.
We should also mention Prism Solar’s adaptability to home automation systems.
Indeed, the established compatibility of our charging station with the MQTT protocol opens the door to numerous possibilities for customisation by users.
Silla Industries: https://silla.industries/
Prism Solar S: https://silla.industries/prism-solar-s-trifase/
Prism Solar: https://silla.industries/prism-solar-trifase/