The 2nd edition of the Observatory on the mobility styles of Italians, promoted by Legambiente in collaboration with Ipsos and, from this year, with the partnership of Unrae, once again confirms the centrality of the private car as the preferred means of transport.
The sample surveyed has an average age of 47 years, is made up of 51% women and 49% men, and is distributed geographically as follows: 45% in the North, 20% in the Centre, and 35% in the South. What emerges is that when they can, Italians move around on foot or by bicycle ‘because it is important for their health’, but they still prefer their cars for their daily journeys. Compared to 4-5 years ago, 28% of those interviewed now use their cars more frequently, 50% as much as before, and 18% less, with a balance of 10 percentage points in favour of those who use them more: a result that can probably be linked to the consequences of the pandemic. The Italians’ preference for the car is due above all to the inadequacy of public transport: routes not covered (35%), insufficient frequency of journeys and unreliable timetables (19%), uncomfortable, un-air-conditioned and poorly cleaned vehicles (13%), the need to accompany people with mobility limitations, such as children, the elderly or the disabled (14%).
What about the transition to electric? The 2022 edition of Ernst&Young’s Electric Vehicle Country Readiness Index comes in to help us, showing that more than half of Italians say they are willing to buy an electric car. In order for inflation and high energy prices not to hold back the development of the market, however, “regulatory simplification and a convergence of incentives and public investment interventions with existing and future industrial initiatives in the area” will be fundamental. Some shadows remain on the prospects for e-mobility in Italy, connected to citizens and the national market. First of all, the economic factor is still weighing on the premium end of the market, which represents the largest part of the electric offer at the moment. On the other hand, neither the performance of cars nor the availability of models is an issue, unlike even just a few years ago. With regard to battery range, on the other hand, the demand of those willing to buy an electric car averages 435 km, in large cities even less.
Mobility is constantly changing. This continuous evolution makes the need for roadside assistance, health care and infomobility services even greater. Injuries that can happen while travelling are a concern. In order to offer safety to all, therefore, regardless of the means of mobility, it is necessary to make progress in the field of innovation, digitalization, and the equipping of increasingly high-performance telematic solutions. This is the perfect habitat for Viasat, Italian excellence in satellite and IoT security services that integrate the latest telematic technologies to guarantee all-around assistance and protection.