Enel X and the Lazio Region join forces to make regional parks even greener

The future of our cities depends very much on the quality of the air its inhabitants breathe. That means that we have to foster all and any initiatives that will encourage the spread of smart, sustainable, clean mobility, which is, of course, also electric. This is what spurred the signing by Enel X and the Region of Lazio of a Memorandum of Intent for electric mobility for the latter’s protected areas. It aims to create a public charging network and to encourage the growth of environmentally-friendly tourism. What could be more logical than enjoying the Region’s natural heritage in a non-polluting vehicle while also being certain of being able to charge your vehicle’s battery at the same time as you are recharging your lungs with good clean air?

“The aim of the Memorandum we signed with Enel is to improve air quality in areas of particular interest in terms of their nature and landscape,” declared Enrica Onorati, the Region of Lazio’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, “by promoting two virtuous kinds of behaviour: using non-polluting fuels and making the most of the potential of very beautiful areas that happen to be slightly off the classic tourist circuits.”  

The main idea behind the Memorandum, which was signed by Commissioner Onorati and Enel X CEO Francesco Venturini in front of the heads of all the parks involved, is to make the installed charging points not merely a facility for citizens but also a tourist attraction that will encourage people to visit the environmental heritage offered by Lazio’s parks. 

A video was also shown during the press conference at the Enel X general headquarters in Rome to showcase the huge success achieved in Chile. This Enel X best-case scenario involved an investment of 32 million dollars in 100 new generation electric buses. These are now starting to appear on the streets of Santiago and are revolutionising the whole concept of public transport in the Chilean megalopolis, in addition to cutting costs by over 55%. Venturini was also keen to stress that these business models are absolutely replicable in Italy’s Regions.

This important agreement reached by Enel X and the Region of Lazio is part of the National Infrastructure Plan launched this year which will see the installation of 14,000 charging points across Italy by 2020, rising to 28,000 by 2022. The Memorandum of Intent signed with the Region of Lazio now flanks the previous one with the Cilento National Park to create an electric vehicle charging network in the Municipalities of Vallo di Diano and Alburni. This marks another important step forward in developing both Italy and sustainable mobility, as well as the creation of zero emissions tourist routes. Signed last October by the President of the Parks Department Tommaso Pellegrino and Enel X CEO Francesco Venturini, it will see the construction of a widespread network in the area’s 90-plus Municipalities.

There is no doubt that these initiatives are very important in terms of spreading “electric culture” and they will enhance the prestige of the pearls of nature in our country by facilitating the development of sustainable mobility. Digital innovation and services designed for the real needs of our Planet and the people living on it have created a new paradigm that is as green as the nature that it is our duty to protect.