Car sharing yes, but privately owned cars too. Young people appreciate and make use of the new mobility options available, but many also want to own a car of their own — and they want it to be environmentally friendly. Of 2,500 university students surveyed across Europe (students of science, engineering, art, design and mathematics between the ages of 18 and 30), 65 per cent consider car sharing an essential service, but 85 per cent (90 per cent in the case of young Italians) also stated that they will own a car within ten years.

Sustainable cars: the challenge of the coming decades

These are the findings that emerge from the ThinkGoodMobility research promoted by Goodyear and ThinkYoung on the future of mobility. But what kind of car would the younger generations like to own? For many millennials, the future lies in sustainable mobility: 59.3 per cent believe that, in the coming years, the great challenge for the automotive industry will be to build vehicles equipped with environmentally friendly technologies, focused on efficiency and reduced consumption. In particular, 24.1 per cent of young Italians would like fuel-efficient cars, 17.1 per cent vehicles equipped with "smart intelligence", and 18.1 per cent cars with green tyres — perhaps even fully biodegradable ones.

What sustainable cars are

All car manufacturers are developing technologies and engines capable of consuming ever less fuel and producing fewer polluting emissions. From Ford's three-cylinder engine to Tesla's electric saloons. From Toyota and Honda's hybrids to Nissan's electric vehicle. To name but a few. There are cars that run on alternative fuels, such as LPG or natural gas (particularly in our country), or on hydrogen — one of the most promising alternatives of this century.

According to Acea (European Automobile Manufacturers' Association), 2016 saw steady growth in registrations of sustainable cars. +30.1 per cent for hybrid models, +26.8 per cent for electric ones. A signal that confirms the research trend.

Sustainable cars: young people's preferences

And among the various sustainable cars, what is the prevailing preference? Last June, a survey conducted by the portal automobile.it with the Gfk Eurisko Institute questioned 265 car owners on the subject of eco-sustainability in driving. For 29 per cent of the sample (people from all over Italy, diverse in terms of gender, age and profession), the car of the future would be hybrid (a combined solution of electric and petrol engine). While some still opt for petrol (19 per cent), electric wins over 14 per cent of respondents, on a par with diesel. These are followed by natural gas at 13 per cent, LPG at 6 per cent, and finally hydrogen.

Returning to hybrid, while women would choose it primarily for the reduction of CO2 emissions and hence for greater environmental sustainability, men would also favour it for a reduction in fuel costs or for certain economic benefits such as free access to restricted traffic zones and savings on road tax. If it is true, finally, that a technology different from the traditional one may require a greater investment at the point of purchase, it turns out that as many as 70 per cent of respondents, in general, would be willing to spend more in order to have a more eco-friendly car.