Italy is reshaping its electric mobility roadmap through the latest revision of its National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), reintroducing a scrappage scheme aimed at boosting electric vehicle uptake. Around €597 million, originally earmarked for the deployment of public charging infrastructure, will now be used to offer direct subsidies for the acquisition of zero-emission vehicles.
The move follows Italy’s failure to meet infrastructure targets related to public EV charging stations. According to the document approved by the Cabina di Regia, these funds must be “immediately redeployed into a new vehicle renewal programme”, aimed at replacing internal combustion vehicles with battery electric ones.
The Government’s ambition is clear: to retire approximately 40,000 polluting vehicles (M1, N1 and N2 categories) and replace them with electric models.
Grants of up to €11,000 per vehicle will be made available, with greater benefits for lower-income households and urban-based microenterprises. However, the exact income threshold to access the support is yet to be defined.
The electric mobility sector has welcomed the measure—albeit with caution.
Fabio Pressi, president of Motus-E, stated:
“Motus-E warmly welcomes the Government’s decision, particularly that of the Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security, which, by listening to citizens’ needs and heeding our proposals, chose to direct a significant share of residual PNRR funds towards electric vehicle incentives.”
He warned, however, that “it will now be crucial to understand all the measure’s details, as the eligibility criteria and success of the initiative will hinge on them. A swift implementation is needed to avoid market disruption.”
In essence, the sector is calling for urgency and clarity, stressing that any delays or vague definitions could undermine the EV market’s current momentum.
A necessary move, but not without consequences for infrastructure
The reallocation of funding brings a clear downside: a reduced investment in public charging infrastructure, which remains insufficient across much of Italy.
Experts and industry stakeholders have pointed out that, although demand-side subsidies are vital, without a robust charging network, the transition to electric mobility risks being incomplete.
Italy lags behind other European nations in terms of chargers per capita, with large urban and rural zones still underserved. The concern is that, unless complementary infrastructure investment is secured, the new policy could deliver limited long-term impact.
The plan’s revision also includes the reallocation of an additional €640 million, previously destined for green hydrogen in hard-to-abate industries, towards the development of biomethane.
The Government aims to reach 2.3 billion cubic metres per year in biomethane production capacity by June 2026, aligning with EU renewable energy targets.
Moreover, the strategy involves a remodelling of rail investments, replacing projects delayed by force majeure with others expected to be completed by the same 2026 deadline.
These adjustments aim to secure continued EU funding by ensuring timely delivery.
A balancing act: more incentives, less infrastructure?
While the new approach is praised as a tangible step towards fleet decarbonisation, it raises concerns about the coherence and sustainability of the transition. Industry voices argue that achieving emissions targets requires simultaneous progress on vehicle affordability, charging availability, and network expansion.
The measure’s success will depend heavily on swift execution, inclusive criteria, and coordination with broader mobility strategies. As stakeholders emphasise, a just and effective transition cannot rely solely on incentives—it must also ensure usability and access.
