Eco-bonus incentives for low-emission cars are selling like hot cakes.
Two weeks after the start of the bookings by the dealers, which took place on January 18, the funds made available by the budget law have already been used up for almost a third as regards clean petrol and diesel cars.
In fact, of the 250 million allocated, approximately 170 million remain, so much so that sector associations have already asked for new allocations in favor of a sector, that of the automotive sector, which has particularly suffered from the effects of the pandemic.
On the other hand, incentives for electric and hybrid cars are less popular: of the 120 million allocated, less than 10. According to data from the Ecobonus portal of the Ministry of Economic Development, for cars with emissions between 61 and 135 grams of CO2 per km (thus including the latest generation of petrol or diesel power) approximately 75 million euros were booked.
While for electric or hybrid cars, between 0 and 60 g / km, just over 8 million euros were requested.
Although the incentives are higher in this case - with the possibility of reaching, including bonuses, dealer discounts and scrapping, up to 10,000 euros for an electric car - the still not widespread diffusion of recharges and the inevitably higher costs of the cars zero emissions still represent an obstacle to purchasing.
It should also be borne in mind that the first eco-bonus can still be used for pure electric cars, of which more than 260 million remaining funds remain.
On the other hand, for vehicles with traditional fueling but in any case of the latest generation, between 61 and 135 g / km, the demand is very high.
The duration of the incentive - equal to 1,500 euros, which can only be used with scrapping and to which is added a retailer's discount of 2,000 euros - is six months.
But, considering the start spurt, mid-year will come only if the funds are not all used up first.
"The strong interest in the eco-bonus - observes Gian Primo Quagliano, president of the Promotor Study Center - immediately draws attention to the scarcity of the appropriations provided and it is legitimate to foresee that the public resources available for the purchase of traditionally powered cars, by far the most requested, will run out long before June 30. The problem therefore arises of allocating new funds to continue with the scrapping campaign also in the second half of 2021 ".