There is an ecosystem of companies along the Via Emilia that will make the transition to electric cars in a special way.
“The electric vehicle is not a marketing phenomenon or a result of stringent anti-emissions legislation. The electric car is a product. It exists because it is demanded by the market. Teodoro Lio (An Accenture’s European Automotive & Mobility Manager) opened the Motor Valley Fest 2021 round table “Sustainability & Electricity”, moderated by Alessandro Lago, director of Motor1.com/InsideEVs.it.
The electric car is, in fact, the first and foremost a car. And where else could it be developed than in Italy’s Motor Valley, the home of some of the most beloved and highly-performing cars in the world? There are great skills, and above all, the ability to create a system that is envied by the entire world. The Chinese Faw’s massive investment has demonstrated that there is an exceptional base to make it the hub of high-end electric cars.
Natural evolution
Davide Danesin is GT Line Global Executive at Maserati. He believes that the electric car isn’t a revolutionary idea, but an evolution in the design of the car. It is more than a job. While there are many new skills and problems to solve, the fundamental concepts that Maserati learned over decades of research are invaluable.
He says, “The automotive industry has always been changing and we have always been involved in it.”
Maserati will enter the world of electric cars with the GranTurismo Folgore next year. This car is a representative model of Trident’s Trident brand. The decision to begin with it carries a clear message: even though it is powered by batteries, it will still be built in complete compliance with Modena’s DNA. Danesin says that it will also offer endothermic propulsion, but there will be great consistency and respect for the past.
Electric invasion
The Maserati GranTurismo Fogore’s arrival is part of a wider trend. A multitude of zero-emission sports cars are expected to arrive on the market between now and 2025. One-third of all hypercars by 2025 will be electric, and the other third will be electrified.
This is because the market for these niche markets is changing. They are keen to drive high-performance cars but also to experience new worlds. This generates curiosity and helps them to see the future. Motor Valley can play a key role in this evolution, riding a Dallara, Lamborghini and Pagani. Names that will make a significant impact on the industry.
Charges and how they change
New charging requirements will be required as a result of the influx of high-performance electric vehicles onto the market. Ultra-fast charging rates will be more important for sports cars, which typically have larger batteries. Federico Caleno (Head of e-Mobility Italy, Enel X) and Antonio Gioia (E-Mobility Sales manager at A2A), have shared their visions for how Italy’s infrastructure will evolve.
Caleno says that the goal was to provide homogeneous coverage across the entire territory of the country with 13,000 points at 500 stations over the past 2 years. We have begun a second phase to establish a fast charging network at rates of up to 350 kW since the start of the year.
He says, “We will arrive 2025 with 3,000 of these stalls.” Now, he adds, “Having eliminated the fear that we might run out of gas, it is now possible to make long journeys. We have just sent to all concessionaires of the Italian freeway network a document stating our willingness and desire to install charging stations at all 440 Italian service stations.
Lombardy-based A2A is also moving in the same direction. Gioia says that A2A started in 2010 with the first experiments for car manufacturers. “And we started to put charging stations in the main cities of Lombardy and Brescia.” Although we have focused on 50 kW in the past, we are now preparing for an expansion plan to be present all over Italy by 2030. We will increase our 700-plus recharging stations to 6,000, with fast charging available on freeways, bypasses and highways.
Energica Motor Company is also located in Modena. This company is specialized in high-performance electric bikes. Giampiero Testoni is the CTO of the company. He explains that the needs of a green motorcycle rider are different than those of a driver. He is an individual who values performance and technology, but still wants to feel the same emotions as a traditional motorcycle. Our customer is looking to find curves.”
We need infrastructure to ensure easy charging. Testoni says that the motorcycles can go from 0 to 100 in just 2.6 seconds. Testoni says that motorcyclists always smile when they try them out. However, tools such as a charging network that can be used in areas frequented frequently by motorcyclists are very useful.
Let’s return to Lio’s words. “I often make that provocation.” The car industry was a simple world until now. It was easy to design a car, produce it, then sell it. Then you stopped thinking about it. We now have more complex markets that offer greater opportunities for growth. Collectively, the automotive industry is worth $3.5 trillion. By 2030, the global mobility market will be worth $7 trillion. Because it will bring services, technology and digitization. Consider autonomous driving and shared mobility.
Italy’s Motor Valley should be focusing on this area. The region will be able to combine its expertise in this area with new skills to make it a global leader. Motor Valley will become, to use Lio’s words, “A Digital Valley,” “A Cyber Valley”, and “A Sustainable Valley”. First, you must know how to build an electric car. Then, it is necessary to also know how to connect and make it green.