Italy restarts after the summer break but the local public transport is likely to stop for the expensive fuel. While the requests for the transport bonus are counted, the price of diesel in particular has put companies in crisis. And before the formation of the new government, the one in office is urged to new economic support interventions. Le trade associations ANAV, ASSTRA and AGENS representing companies in the sector have launched an appeal to avoid stopping especially on the eve of the reopening of schools. Given that the vast majority of these vehicles circulate with traditional, not very ecological fuels, 910 companies say they are willing to guarantee the regularity of the service but want short-term support. To avoid a default of the majority of businesses, says a statement and "to ensure the continuity and regularity of an essential service for citizens, especially in the current economic context of extreme difficulty for families, we ask for urgent interventions in the announced next government measure"
Expensive fuel and transport: extra costs and VAT
The three associations use data from Ministry of Economic Development to highlight the pre-crisis state. Despite the 25 cent cut in excise duty launched by the Draghi government last March, the price of diesel for buses net of VAT increased by almost 25% compared to 2019. point that i production costs of transport services increased by approximately 240 million euros. A chasm with two probable medium-term effects: the closure of many small and medium-sized enterprises or the increase in tickets and subscriptions. Both to be avoided. In 2022, the cost of diesel has exploded, affecting a vehicle fleet made up of more than 98% diesel-powered buses, "not to mention the exceptional surge in the cost of natural gas and electricity", add the representatives of ANAV, ASSTRA and AGENS. But there's more. The projections for the future - only with the trend of increases and provided that the excise cut is renewed - indicate a further 140 million euros of extra costs. In the end, all in all, there will be 380 million euros of expensive fuel, for a value of around 6 thousand euros per bus, vehicles that continue to burden thecity air.
Rejuvenation of the bus fleet in circulation: the government buys non-polluting buses
“The seriousness of the situation and the need to further support measures for a sector among the most affected by the restrictions imposed by the pandemic and still awaiting the full recovery of pre-covid demand levels". The request is for "more substantial, incisive and appropriate measures for the current situation" the associations insist. However, they make no mention of the need for ecological modernization of the vehicles. The modernization of the bus fleet in circulation it is part of the European agenda for the ecological transition. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Mobility sustainable has already allocated ad hoc funds and in August communicated the update of the plan started in January 2022. 357 buses have already been ordered through the Extraurban Buses Framework Agreement 1 and 379 through the Urban Buses Framework Agreement 1, to which several other orders are added for a total of around 1.000 vehicles. The orders are broken down by Region and by the end of the year - he says The minister Enrico Giovannini – there will be a similar tender for the supply of battery electric buses. A progression of activity after years of inertia which today has the face of expensive fuel for unexpected events.
