The future of electric mobility is at Villa d’Este

The second edition of Villa d’Este Style Electric Yachting was held at Villa d’Este on Saturday 17 September, the event organized by Villa d’Este in collaboration with the Alessandro Volta Foundation and the Ernesto Riva Shipyard and with the participation of BMW Italy, mobility partner of the event.

Born with the aim of spreading a new environmental awareness, in the context of the ecological and technological transition underway, it saw the participation of authorities, industry experts and a community that is increasingly attentive to the concept of electric mobility.

Guests were able to try out some of the electrically operated nautical masterpieces resulting from the experience of the Ernesto Riva shipyard, developed with the ER Innovation division: from the Villa d’Este model, an elegant motorboat presented last year at Electric Yachting to the Vaporina Elettra, spacious, functional and silent; from the E-next Ernestino, in an open configuration, to the Lucia, which combines the most ancient tradition with electric motors.

To underline the participation of important international shipyards, well known to the public interested in zero emissions, which presented their latest news: the Swedish Candela through ABC Boats brought an example of a 100% electric & foil boat; the Spanish Magonis showed the innovative Wave e-550 and finally the Monegasque Vita Power gave the opportunity to try out the Vita Seal model.

BMW Italia, mobility partner of the event, exhibited two brand new four-wheeled flagships: the BMW 740d xDrive (combined fuel consumption in the WLTP cycle: 6.9 – 5.9 liters per 100 kilometers; CO2 emissions 182 – 157 g / km), available in Europe in spring 2023 and the BMW iX M60 (combined consumption: 24.7 – 21.7 kWh / 100 km according to WLTP; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km).

Villa d’Este Style Electric Yachting was an opportunity to get to know two innovative prototypes of electric boats, developed respectively by the Politecnico di Milano through the Physis division (Polimi Energy Boat) and by the University of Bologna through the UniBoAT division. Both universities have built a hybrid catamaran that combines hydrogen, batteries and solar panels and participated in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge 2022.

In the afternoon, the round table entitled Lake electric mobility: state of the art and future took place, which saw the participation of authorities and important experts in the sector discussing the importance of the development of electric navigation on lakes.
Investing in low environmental impact travel is the way to the future: Lake Como can become a model of innovation and sustainability, both environmental and economic. In fact, sustainability is no longer an option, but an indispensable element.

The Mayor of Como, Alessandro Rapinese, stressed the importance of implementing public infrastructures such as piers and electric columns, paying attention to renewable energy sources. Marco Galimberti, President of the Como-Lecco Chamber of Commerce, confirmed that the territory has embarked on a significant path aimed at creating a system to support this sustainable development. Bernard D’Alessandri, General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco, stressed the importance of advancing the discourse of electric and responsible mobility.

Paolo Mazzucchelli, Lakes Navigation Technical Director, explained how the 3 main lakes are moving to reduce emissions and develop public electric mobility, paying attention to fast charging systems during boat stops.

Lorenzo Rambaldi, Head of Innovability at Enel X, underlined the need for infrastructures to ensure development in a sustainable direction. Pierluigi Coppola, Politecnico di Milano, analyzed the scenarios of the energy transition in the world of public transport, according to a multi-criteria approach.

Nicoletta Molinari, Vice President of ACSM AGAM and Giovanni Chighine, Head of the Energy and Smart Technologies Business Unit of ACSM AGAM highlighted how the electrification of public mobility must meet the needs of the community and the territory, following a specific design and planning.

Mauro Guerra, President of ANCI Lombardia (National Association of Italian Municipalities) stressed that municipalities have an important responsibility in building a sustainable future, at a social, economic and environmental level. Stefano Besseghini, President of ARERA (Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and the Environment), stressed the need to invest in new technologies to change the asset of our mobility, adopting a horizontal vision that involves communities.

At the end of the debate, moderated by Francesco Condoluci, journalist, editor-in-chief of Economy and communication consultant for the Deannza of the Senate, the following also took part: Alessandro Soliani of Soliani emc; Paolo Schito, researcher of the mechanics department of the Politecnico di Milano and Michele Bolpagni of Aqua Super Power.

Giuseppe Fontana, President of the Villa d’Este Group, commented: “We are very proud of the positive feedback from Villa d’Este Style Electric Yachting, this event pushes us to take concrete actions to make sustainability an achievable goal”.

“Preserving the enchanting scenery that surrounds us, starting from our lake, admired by the whole world: from this point of view, lake electric mobility can really make a difference. We will continue in this direction, with commitment and attention”, added Davide Bertilaccio, CEO of the Villa d’Este Group.

Matteo Cristina, CFO of the Villa d’Este Group, said: “Villa d’Este is proceeding with a gradual and responsible approach towards electric mobility, resuming the line of sustainability adopted by the Hotel. A few years ago we sat down at the table with the Ernesto Riva Shipyard and the idea of ​​a new, strictly electric boat was born. Today we can say that we are very satisfied because the project is having great success. At first we thought we were alone, but the theme turned out to be central and absolutely topical”.

Daniele Riva, owner of the Ernesto Riva Shipyard, commented: “The turnout and interest today for our boats and for the event in general confirm the important result achieved by the Shipyard and ER Innovation. In the wake of this enthusiasm we are already working on a new creature to propose, always in collaboration with the Frers studio and with an even more advanced technology”.

Luca Levrini, President of the Alessandro Volta Foundation, underlined: “Sustainable mobility has become a social right to preserve the beauty of our lake, and that is why we must commit ourselves not only to the development of new avant-garde boats, but also to the diffusion of a culture that creates an awareness of the advantages of the electric”.

Carlo Botto Poala, Marketing Director of BMW Italy, said: “BMW has always invested in the electric and in sustainability; zero-emission mobility can be achieved with future technologies: a small series of hydrogen-powered cars will arrive in Italy at the end of 2022. For BMW, the concept of circularity is very important, which is based on the principles of rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle, with the aim of achieving 100% recycled and recyclable materials”.

Marco Makaus, Project Manager of the Villa d’Este Style initiatives, added: “This edition was the promise and premise for the future: the cultural and scientific aspect blends perfectly with the practical test of new products, examples that they represent the best of electric boating, and they give us a strong incentive to make the 2023 edition even more important”.

Villa d’Este

Villa d’Este, which this year celebrates its 150th season, is the iconic 5-star luxury hotel located in Cernobbio, on Lake Como, part of Villa d’Este Hotels, a reference point in international luxury hôtellerie and member of The Leading Hotels of the World. The Group also includes the five-star Villa La Massa, on the banks of the Arno, and the two four-star Palace Hotel and Hotel Barchetta Excelsior, in the center of Como and overlooking the lake. Considered one of the most beautiful expressions of architecture of the mid-sixteenth century, transformed into a hotel in 1873 and immersed in a 10-hectare park, Villa d’Este is a symbol of timeless luxury and eternal elegance. It offers 152 rooms and suites divided between the Cardinal Building and the Queen’s Pavilion and 4 private villas. Villa Belinzaghi was recently acquired and will undergo a complete restoration. Villa d’Este offers three restaurants: the elegant Veranda with its refined cuisine, the Grill for more informal dinners and Il Platano, open in the summer months, with a casual atmosphere. In addition to the Canova Bar and the Sundeck, open in the summer. The hotel also includes the Beauty Center and Sporting Club with heated indoor pool, gym, sauna, Turkish bath, squash court, electronic golf, putting green, fitness trail and 8 tennis courts. The famous floating pool on the lake is heated and, not far away, there is one dedicated to children.
The Group’s Chief Executive Officer is Davide Bertilaccio.