Holy Roller: Renault donates all-electric Popemobile to His Holiness

Holy Roller: Renault donates all-electric Popemobile to His Holiness:
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Renault




Popes know how to travel in style, as the long list of iconic Popemobiles can attest to. In recent years, His Holiness Benedict XVI - aka the "Green Pope" - has been trying to clean up those bubbly vehicles with alternative powertrains. He wanted a plug-in hybrid from Mercedes-Benz or a solar-powered car, but those have yet to come to fruition. In July, the Vatican did get an all-electric vehicle from NWG Zero.



The latest holy roller is a new all-electric vehicle from Renault. Modified with help from Gruau, the Kangoo Maxi Z.E. was donated to the Vatican by Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn at the Holy Father's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo yesterday. The Pope's bodyguards can ride in EV style, too, since Renault donated a second EV, this one decked out in blue and white, to the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City. The EVs use lithium-ion batteries for an estimated range of 105 miles on the lenient European NEDC test cycle. The interiors "are fitted with two particularly comfortable separate seats at the rear," says Renault. The roof opens, too, in case His Holiness would like to stand and wave at people who don't get free cars.
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Holy Roller: Renault donates all-electric Popemobile to His Holiness originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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