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This article was published on June 11, 2021

Dear EV makers, the pope doesn’t need ANY MORE electric popemobiles

The Vatican now gets an all-electric Nissan LEAF


Dear EV makers, the pope doesn’t need ANY MORE electric popemobiles

A few days ago, Nissan donated an all-electric LEAF sedan to the Vatican to help the small state in its environmental goal to gradually replace its service vehicles with an all-electric fleet.

It’s part of Pope Francis’ commitment to turn the Vatican carbon neutral by 2050, as he announced in December 2020. The Church also plans to increase the number of charging stations, especially around several of the major basilicas in Rome.

Pope Francis has supported environmental initiatives since the beginning of his service, and it comes as no surprise that the Nissan LEAF isn’t the first green vehicle gifted to him.

In October 2020, the Pope received a hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ). Similarly, in May, EV startup Fisker designed for Francis an all-electric car, based on the company’s Ocean SUV, which will feature a solar roof and an interior made from recyclable plastic bottles. 

The Pope can stand and be to the crowd visible
Credit: Toyota
The hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai popemobile
Fisker has set to produce the first all-electric popemobile
Credit: Fisker
Fisker’s all-electric popemobile will be delivered in 2022

Do EVs excite your electrons? Do ebikes get your wheels spinning? Do self-driving cars get you all charged up? 

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