Popemobile 'to become green machine': report

June 19, 2011

The pope cannot have a purely electric car in case it needs to move fast in an emergency

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Pope Benedict XVI waves to supporters from his popemobile as they greet him during his visit to center of capital Zagreb on June 4. Mercedes-Benz is making a greener hybrid Popemobile for Benedict XVI, the Wirtschaftswoche weekly paper says.

Mercedes-Benz is making a greener hybrid Popemobile for Benedict XVI, the Wirtschaftswoche weekly paper said Saturday.

However a Vatican spokesman denied the paper's prediction that it should be ready for Benedict's visit to his native Germany in September.

According to the report, the new Popemobile will be based on the four-wheel drive M Class Mercedes with a hybrid electric-petrol motor.

The rechargeable will allow it to drive 30 kilometres (16 miles) without any polluting emissions.

The pope would not be allowed to use a purely electric-driven car as the Popemobile must have the capacity to take off swiftly in case of emergency, the paper said.

A spokesman said the group could give no details on private clients "for reasons of confidentiality".

Marcedes has provided the special cars to successive popes since the 1980s, the special high-sized, reinforced glass design allowing for maximum viewing with high levels of security.

Last December, Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, president of the governorate of Vatican City State, suggested was "prepared to use an electric Popemobile," as long as it was efficient and reliable.

Benedict XVI, sometimes labelled "the green " in the Italian press, has emphasised the defence of "God's works" and therefore the need to protect the environment.

Vatican spokesman Federicoo Lombardi told AFP Saturday that while the project for new car was under development it was not yet finalised and the vehicle would not be ready before the end of the year.

(c) 2011 AFP

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aroc91
Jun 19, 2011

Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
The question remains: Who cares?
robbor
Jun 19, 2011

Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
it's going to run on the Pope's methane
aroc91
Jun 20, 2011

Rank: not rated yet
it's going to run on the Pope's methane


They wouldn't need a gasoline motor if that were the case. lol
Rank 4 /5 (1 vote)
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