The electrification of the automotive sector has reached an important turning point in Europe, with 16-18% of new registrations involving electric vehicles. This is according to Guido Scanagatta, Product Director at Exide Technologies, a long-established multinational with over 100 years of experience in battery manufacturing.

‘The market is mature,’ explains Scanagatta. ‘Three years ago, the discussion was about range and charging times, but today the debate has shifted to price. This means that a range of 400 km is sufficient for everyday use.’ In Italy, where a car travels an average of 50 km per day, the infrastructure of 67,000 charging stations is more than adequate.

The situation is different for two-wheelers: while electric scooters are becoming increasingly popular for urban commuting, motorcycles are still struggling. ‘It is not yet a mature product to replace combustion engine motorcycles,’ admits the expert, citing limitations in range and battery packaging.

The circular economy is a key issue: the new European Battery Regulation (1542/2023) imposes responsibility on manufacturers for the end of life of batteries. Lead-acid batteries are already a virtuous example, with 100% collection and 99% recycling in Europe.