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t was back in 1995, when – with the name of A Tutto Gas News
- the first issue came out of what has remained the only
magazine specialized in topics related to vehicles powered by
ecological fuels.
Italy is a recognized leader in this sector and, in those years,
some 80/100,000 cars converted to gas (LPG or natural gas) every
year; they were supported by a network of distributors that in
some parts of the country was practically sufficient, at least
as regards LPG. Electric mobility was still almost unheard of in
the world, while hydrogen was yet to come.
The entire sector – professionals and users - was mature, and in
need of a source of information capable of monitoring,
communicating, updating and promoting - in Italy and worldwide -
the use of gas as a fuel for vehicles that had the advantages of
being available, economical and, above all, ECOLOGICAL.
There have been many changes since then. From a disadvantageous
situation for those who drove gas-powered cars - some may recall
that there was still an additional road tax, superbollo,
(equivalent to about 300 of today’s euro), we have come around
to a stage of strong institutional and local incentives, with
contributions and incentives of various kinds enacted by the
different administrations, to encourage the use of vehicles with
low environmental impact. It has been a complete about-face:
from taxing users to encouraging them. We can proudly say that
the magazine contributed to this change by organizing many
events and promotional conferences of all kinds and at all
levels, to inform and promote the spread of ecological power.
And so we now have about 1.7 million natural gas vehicles
circulating in Italy, in addition to 11 million in the rest of
Europe and with a peak in 2009 of between 600,000 registrations
and inspections of gas vehicles, new or converted on the
after market. Unfortunately in recent months the situation
has changed as regards incentives, and the outlook is not good.
The lack of funding has had negative repercussions on the users,
and only the wide gap between the price of gas and that of
traditional fuels keeps the market alive, but the absence of any
structural programming is strongly felt.
This magazine has consistently followed and this development of
the market, and will continue to do so by supporting
and creating opportunities for meetings, including business
events, stimulating a strong information channel between the
supply and demand of this technology.
 With
the bilingual edition (Italian and English on facing pages) the
magazine has opened more abroad - since 2005 – to offer and
receive more ideas for reports and information. Of course, gas
for vehicles is not the only means – though it is the most
prevalent economically – to achieve environmentally friendly
mobility; thus the magazine, not wanting to be too dependent on
gas, has become ECOMOBILE, informing on and addressing
even niche topics and techniques, such as electric cars,
hybrids, biodiesel, hydrogen, etc.
Now we are more 100! Is not a limit, but a
stage. We will continue to listen to your suggestions and
opinions: information, like mobility, evolves and changes for
the better, with the help of everyone involved, the industry and
the users
Enjoy the read!
Ugo Nazzarro
for mail, please use:
:
direttore@ecomobile.it
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