Before getting into the conference content, a few figures. The Italian electric car market continued to grow in March. In the third month of the year, 9,373 fully electric vehicles were registered (source: Unrae), up 77.7 per cent compared to March 2024, with a market share rising to 5.4 per cent (from 3.2 per cent in March 2024). As of 31 March, the electric vehicle fleet in Italy stands at 297,917 cars. And in Europe? Italy's figure reveals a wide gap compared to other European markets: Germany reaches 17.7 per cent, the United Kingdom 25.3, France 17.9 and Spain 6.8 per cent.

Do electric cars really carry a higher fire risk?

Let us now turn to the fake news surrounding electric vehicle safety. Recent analyses published by Motus-e (the Italian association bringing together the leading industrial players in the automotive and energy sectors as well as the academic world to promote the energy transition in transport) show that electric vehicles are 10 to 60 times less likely to catch fire than hybrid, diesel and petrol vehicles, and that the energy released by any fires that do occur is comparable to that of an equivalent internal combustion vehicle in flames. The data also indicate that even in the event of an accident, electric vehicles are less prone to fire risk than petrol-powered ones, with an average of just 25.1 fires per 100,000 accidents, compared to 1,529 for conventional vehicles.

Electric mobility: the value of knowledge and prevention in safety

With the aim of shedding light on the subject, CapBus Service and InGenio organised a conference in Prato with the telling title Safety in Electric Mobility: Knowledge and Risk Prevention, produced in collaboration with ACI and under the patronage of the Università degli Studi di Firenze, Regione Toscana, Fondazione PIN and the Comune di Prato. The goal? To go beyond the debate on electric mobility and analyse and compare safety plans, risk prevention examined from different perspectives, the importance of maintenance, emergency procedures for electric cars, buses and heavy transport vehicles, both public and private. But also to understand the significant impact that electric vehicles have had on after-sales management processes in relation to safety issues — for workers involved in routine maintenance as well as for the entire supply chain involved.

The floor is given to those working on electric vehicle safety

The meeting was an opportunity to discuss safety in electric mobility in all its aspects, bringing together all the stakeholders involved in the electrified transition of transport — from emergency services to OEMs and the world of research, from universities to legal considerations — while also exploring new training tools, new procedural systems and the new personnel qualification requirements needed to ensure not only the effectiveness of maintenance interventions, but above all the protection of individuals. Electric mobility as a driver of innovation, capable of stimulating new safety processes — yet one that remains an open topic.

The speakers' contributions focused on precisely these issues: Federico Toscano, President of CAP; Marco Gori, Head of the CAP maintenance business unit; Francesco Ciro Scotto, Director of Studies and Research at Fondazione Caracciolo – ACI; Renzo Servadei, CEO of Autopromotec; Lorenzo Berzi, lecturer and researcher at the Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze; Stefano Sordelli, Director of Future Mobility & Government Relations at VW Group Italia; Paride Bonvini, Director of Customer Service & Parts at Daimler Buses; Maria Vincenza Saccone, Commander of the Prato Fire Brigade; Francesco Paolo Maresca, criminal lawyer; Lorenzo Giagnoni, President and co-founder of the engineering firm InGenio. The event was moderated by LifeGate's Chief Mobility Editor Roberto Sposini.

The ecological transition of transport: between benefits and new complexities

The event was held at the Palazzo Pretorio in Prato. "Our aim was to bring the topic of safety in electric mobility, in all its possible dimensions, to the table with all stakeholders, in order to open a debate on the potential advantages and complexities that may arise in managing the increasingly widespread use of electric vehicles — from micro-mobility to cars, through to freight and passenger transport," explained Federico Toscano in his opening remarks.

The spread of electric vehicles is a topic that still faces considerable resistance, which is why "the priority remains accompanying a renewal of the vehicle fleet (one of the oldest in Europe, ed.) by encouraging the scrapping of old vehicles in favour of those with a better environmental impact and the most modern safety standards," explained Francesco Ciro Scotto of Fondazione Caracciolo.

The role of universities and in-company training

An electrified mobility transition that also calls for new professional profiles, and where "the role of universities is fundamental because we have the task of improving people's training and ensuring a lasting relationship between these new professional figures and the needs of the territory," said Lorenzo Berzi of the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Florence, who is part of a European project on battery recycling. An ecological transition that also affects public transport, with electric buses becoming increasingly widespread, "which differ from traditional ones exclusively in the driveline. That is why we were able to retrain our staff, but not without appropriate investments in training, equipment and adequate personal protective devices," stressed Paride Bonvini of Daimler buses Italia.

Prevention and new standards

But safety in electric mobility (and beyond) starts with prevention, as Renzo Servadei of Autopromotec explained, arguing that "prevention through the vehicle inspection system will soon be called upon to check increasingly sophisticated devices such as Adas driver assistance systems." In Prato, the manufacturers' perspective also proved essential, with the testimony of the Volkswagen Group, among the most committed to the electric transition of the car: "For us it is important to monitor the market and give clear answers to customers by providing assistance and guarantees in the management of electric vehicles, both in terms of construction and routine maintenance, thanks to targeted training initiatives for our staff who are available to customers every day," explained Stefano Sordelli of Volkswagen Italia, which devotes considerable attention to its FAQs on electric vehicle safety.

It is impossible to discuss road safety without the perspective of those for whom safety and prevention are a top priority, especially when it comes to electric vehicles: "E-mobility represents an opportunity for the Fire Brigade, as our mission is to help our environment. We have done so recently, thanks to EU funds, by renewing our fleet with electric vehicles and, of course, by continuing training and update activities on fire prevention, including for vehicle charging systems, bringing them in line with the latest safety standards," clarified Maria Vincenza Saccone, Commander of the Prato Fire Brigade, in her address.

The future looks promising, but greater awareness is needed

But "the fundamental element in process management remains training – as Lorenzo Giagnoni of InGenio made clear – with staff competence and knowledge needing to be stimulated through processes that raise the level of professional expertise and workplace safety." In short, the electrification of mobility remains "a great challenge awaiting entrepreneurs and employers, one that requires the adaptation of human resources and the management of new tools dedicated to safety," concluded lawyer Francesco Maresca.

The conclusions of the Prato conference indicate that, although there is still a long way to go in debunking false myths, updating standards, protocols and training, interest in the topic of electric vehicle safety is constantly growing, pointing to a promising future for all the sectors involved, from manufacturers to those responsible for maintenance, right through the entire supply chain. There is no doubt that the combination of greater awareness and the adoption of new technologies could lead to further safety improvements for electric vehicles in the near future, and all stakeholders appear to be aligning around a shared vision — and a shared necessity.