/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25775074/electric_g_an_papst_1_w1680xh945_cutout.jpeg "The pope goes electrical with first EV popemobile from Mercedes-Benz")
Pope Francis shall be using in a brand new, all-electric popemobile after receiving a modified G-Class car from Mercedes-Benz, the corporate introduced Wednesday.
It’s the primary electrical popemobile from the posh German automaker, which has been manufacturing autos for the Vatican for the final 90 years. For half that point, the popemobile has been primarily based on Mercedes’ G-Class wagon. And now, for the primary time, it wil be working with none air pollution, powered by the corporate’s EV expertise.
“With the brand new Popemobile, Pope Francis is the primary pope to be touring in a totally electrical Mercedes-Benz when making public appearances,” CEO Ola Kallenius, who personally delivered the car to Pope Francis this week. “This is a particular honor for our firm, and I want to thank His Holiness for his belief. With this Popemobile, we’re additionally sending out a transparent name for electromobility and decarbonisation.”
“With this Popemobile, we’re additionally sending out a transparent name for electromobility and decarbonisation”
The car was modified to make the most of 4 particular person motors at every wheel for low-speed journey because the Pope greets guests in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, for instance. In the rear, the bench seat was changed by an elevated, swiveling single seat, so the pope can face his followers from all sides. Two different seats have been included behind the pope’s spot for extra passengers.
This is the primary all-electric popemobile, however it isn’t Pope Francis’ first expertise with zero-emission transportation. The Vatican was gifted a Renault Kangoo electrical van in 2012, however it wasn’t used for official transport. Pope Francis was pushed round in a hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai in Japan in 2019. And Mercedes-Benz has even made hybrid popemobiles for his holiness.
The risk of an electrical popemobile has been floating round for years. The now-defunct EV startup Fisker even proposed constructing one after founder Henrik Fisker met briefly with Pope Francis in 2021. The firm declared chapter earlier this 12 months.
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