Electric Days, the transition goes from economy to politics

“The transition is faster than we imagine and even faster than our fears”, said Leonardo Becchetti, full professor of Political Economy at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, an expert on ecological transition and who spoke today on the first day of the Electric Days, underway in Rome.
“There are problems of a higher order – commented Becchetti – such as global warming, which is not a radical chic question but is real, as in the case of climate migrants, drought and costs for agriculture. It is important that the Europe sets the example”.
On the front of the transition to electric motors, Becchetti has no doubts. “I am sure – explained the professor – that the appointment of 2035 has already been passed by the decisions of many car manufacturers, who have decided to stop producing cars with combustion engines. We will be ready before that date”.
In terms of the diffusion of electricity in the short term, however, some unknown factors remain. “The resistance of some car manufacturers – Becchetti commented again – depends on investments already made in the past. We also need to understand objections and how to overcome them. An economy of scale will be fundamental which will bring down prices. Another unknown factor concerns the materials, but the technology it will evolve with new batteries that will also limit the use of rare minerals and will be more recyclable. In Italy, Lazio could be the new Saudi Arabia of lithium”.
However, it will not be only economic components that will determine the ways in which to tackle the energy transition. “Everything also depends on political foresight – concluded Becchetti – but we will go in this direction, even if Italy is still behind countries where governments have invested to encourage the transition. Then there is a cultural question and a price delta still high”.