By 2030, CO2 emissions reduced by 32 per cent, NOx emissions by 65 per cent and fine particulate matter by 77 per cent. A cut that would bring enormous benefits to citizens' health, to the country's economy — with a GDP increase of almost 2.4 billion euros — and to the mitigation of the effects of climate change. These are some of the figures that the transition towards the use of low-carbon vehicles would bring to Italy.

Data presented at E_mob, the national conference on electric mobility, and contained in the report "Fuelling Italy's Future: Come la transizione verso la mobilità a basso contenuto di carbonio rafforza l'economia", coordinated by the European climate foundation, by Transport & Environment and by the Fondazione centro studi Enel, with analytical support from Cambridge economics and the Università Bocconi.

All the benefits of electric mobility in a single document

A virtuous circle, an almost obligatory transition, that can wait no longer. The report objectively examines all the benefits that the transition to electric and low-emission mobility would bring to our country. First and foremost, economic ones: the gradual shift to battery-powered vehicles would lead to a cut in oil imports, with cumulative savings of around 21 billion euros by 2030 and 377 billion euros by 2050. "Today the oil sector employs only 3.5 people, whereas the electricity and hydrogen sectors would generate an employment intensity almost 5 times higher," explains Veronica Aneris of the European federation Transport & Environment. According to the report, the reduction in imports will lead to the creation of 19,225 new jobs in 2030 and more than 50,000 in 2050. "Today we are giving jobs to people employed in the oil sector far from our country. With the electric transition, the scenario would change in favour of Italy and Europe," Aneris underlines.

This is a way to revitalise Italian industry, historically innovative in the automotive sector, but which is now experiencing the gap. "The Italian industry risks being the great absentee, even though a great many companies are already ready and able to work in electric mobility," says Pietro Menga, president of Cives (Commissione italiana veicoli elettrici stradali). "We cannot afford to miss this train."

But there would also be benefits for consumers. The report shows that with a small private vehicle, and despite a higher initial investment, in 2020 savings of 353 euros a year would be made, while by 2030 this would reach around 917 euros. Savings that would come mainly from fuel and maintenance costs.

The climate impacts of electric mobility

To meet the containment objectives with regard to temperature rises, the transport sector will need to be fully decarbonised by 2050. And the contribution of renewables in the energy mix to power electric mobility will also be crucial. The group that produced the report explains that, in a scenario following the latest Sen (Strategia elettrica nazionale), CO2 emissions could be reduced by 84 per cent.

The impacts on health

Low-carbon mobility can help reduce air pollution by substantially cutting NOx and particulate emissions from cars. The study shows that such emissions can be reduced by 50 per cent and 63 per cent respectively compared to 2017 levels, approaching zero by 2050. A scenario that would lead to the saving of almost 1,400 lives.