Despite the state bonuses for the purchase of low environmental impact cars, the Italian fleet remains among the oldest and most polluting in Europe. Of course, sales of electrified cars (especially hybrids) are growing significantly, so much so that they represent 41.2% of the total number of new cars registered in the first two months of the year. As further evidence, in 2021 the car fleet of hybrid and electric cars almost doubled (+ 93%) compared to 2020, from 595,807 to 1,149,528 cars.
However, according to the analysis of the Research Center of AutoScout24 based on ACI – Automobile Club d’Italia data, the vehicle fleet remains dated and obsolete: of the approximately 39,823,000 cars in circulation, hybrid and electric represent only 2.9% (in 2020 it was 1.5%), with the electric ones stopping at 0.3%. “But it is not a question of fuel, given that many new generation petrol or diesel models have a“ reduced ”impact on the environment and on consumption”, reads an official note issued by AutoScout24, a well-known automotive marketplace. In fact, there are over 11,340,000 (28.5% of the total) cars in circulation with an emission class of Euro 3 or lower, with around 3,580,000 even Euro 0 (9%). Even considering the average age, nearly four out of ten cars (37%) are 15 or older.
Speaking of hybrid and electric cars, these represent 8.7% of the cars circulating in Valle d’Aosta, followed by Trentino-Alto Adige (8.1%). A figure well above the national average. On the contrary, the southern regions are in the last places, including Campania (0.9%), Molise (1.1%), Sicily (1.1%) and Calabria (1.1%). . In southern Italy, almost half (47%) of the “less green” cars circulate, ie with a Euro 3 class or lower. The highest rate of obsolete cars is recorded in Calabria, with 44% of the total in the region, followed by Campania (42.3%) and Sicily (42.2%). Once again the situation is much better in Valle d’Aosta (9%) and in Trentino-Alto Adige (10.5%).
Finally, the long-term consequences of the pandemic, the shortage of microchips that hit the car industry – making production difficult – and the delicate international political situation weigh on the renewal of the car fleet. According to AutoScout24, even the new generation used car market – 58% of second-hand cars on the company’s website are Euro, 6 and almost six out of ten of the cars listed are 5 years old or less – could favor the path of ” rejuvenation “.