Technological neutrality, what it means and how it could be implemented – Corriere.it

Combining environmental, economic and social sustainability. Accompanying businesses and citizens towards the green transition without surrendering ourselves to new strategic dependencies and respecting the principle of technological neutrality. This will be our approach: so Giorgia Meloni to the Chamber has anticipated its programs in the field of the environment. But, now that he is participating in the work of COP27, the summit organized by the UN to fight climate change, it becomes important to understand the key points. And therefore, when you talk about technological neutrality, what do you mean?

Technological neutrality is the principle according to which it is not right to bet on a single technology; on the contrary, it is better to provide a flexible approach to the various technologies available, without one necessarily prevailing over the others.

Electric, hybrid, hydrogen. But also diesel, petrol, biomethane and renewable synthetic fuels. The future of mobility is based on many different solutions, yet all important to contribute to the reduction of emissions.

The concept that we cannot bet on just one fuel.

Also for market issues: in short, because Italy does not become a slave to one market rather than another. To support the automotive sector, which in Italy has 5,000 companies and a turnover of over 100 billion, Italy must demonstrate attractiveness and convenience and invest more in research and development, as explained by Paolo Scudieri, president of Anfia (National Association of Industry Automotive), on Radio 24. To achieve technological neutrality, according to Scudieri, less bureaucracy and greater openness to all technologies and all alternative fuels is needed, taking into account the entrepreneurial realities present in our country.

Technological neutrality is therefore identified with a multidisciplinary approach to mobility so everything that travels on wheels, from the stroller for newborns to the 40-ton truck, can simplify daily life and work, contributing with a 360-degree action to reduce the impact of mobility on the environment.

But how could this be put into practice? An idea comes from the former Minister for Ecological Transition Roberto Cingolani to whom the concept of technological neutrality has always been dear. When in June the EU Parliament decided to stop the sale of endothermic cars starting from 2035, it clearly showed its contrariet: Italy will push on the renewal of the car fleet, on the development of renewable sources, on technological neutrality and on synthetic fuels – said Cingolani a few months ago in the Senate – We have 12 million vehicles in Italy from Euro 0 to Euro 4 out of a fleet of about 40 million. Encouraging the transition of these vehicles to Euro 6 or hybrid has an excellent effect on decarbonisation, even more than switching from Euro 6 to electric for those who can afford it, even taking into account costs. So, for the former minister, who today became a consultant to the Meloni government for energy, better bet immediately on upgrading of the fleet, rather than on electricity with a view to decarbonisation. And on the electric, Cingolani reiterated the need for the availability of green energy for a wide adoption of battery-powered cars.

The new Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichettoconfirmed the line: The position of the new government of continuity with respect to the Draghi executive on technological neutrality – he specified speaking by telephone at #FORUMAutoMotive on 25 October – we must reconcile the economic, industrial and productive needs of a large country like Italy and the weight of the automotive industry, with the goal of zero emissions and switching to electricity or non-polluting and non-climate-altering fuels.