Mercedes-Benz Delivers First Electric 'Popemobile' to Pope Francis

Mercedes-Benz Delivers First Electric ‘Popemobile’ to Pope Francis

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 05/12/2024 at 04:42

Updated on 05/12/2024 at 04:47

Foto: Reproução

1 person reacted to this.

Mercedes-Benz Made History by Delivering the First Fully Electric ‘Popemobile’ to Pope Francis, Reinforcing the Church’s Commitment to Sustainability and Innovation.

For almost a century, Mercedes-Benz has been the official car supplier for the Vatican, with a history marked by the creation of exclusive vehicles for the Popes. Now, the German automaker has taken another historic step by delivering the first fully electric Popemobile to Pope Francis.

The model, based on the Mercedes-Benz EQG, was developed to meet the specific needs of the pontiff and will be used during the Jubilee of 2025, an event occurring every 25 years that attracts millions of pilgrims to Rome.

Tailored Technology and Design of the Popemobile

The electric Popemobile is a customized version of the G 580 with EQ technology, distinguished by its electric propulsion system adapted for slow movements, typical of the Pope’s public appearances.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

See also

This technology utilizes four motors near the wheels to ensure stability and precision at reduced speeds.

At the rear, the design has been adjusted to provide comfort and functionality.

A height-adjustable and rotating central seat has been installed, allowing the Pope to move freely and address the public from various angles. Two additional seats have been integrated for passengers.

To improve visibility, the roof was removed starting from the B-pillar, creating a unique and iconic profile. In poor weather conditions, a rigid roof can be attached for protection.

Other modifications include the reconstruction of the left rear door, now welded without seams, and changes to the hinges of the right door, adapted to facilitate access.

Externally, the vehicle retains the classic pearl white finish, a trademark of Mercedes-Benz Popemobiles.

Tradition of Excellence

Since 1930, when it supplied a Nürburg 460 Pullman Saloon to Pope Pius XI, Mercedes-Benz has been innovating to meet the Vatican’s demands.

In the following decades, iconic models were adapted for papal use, such as the 300 Landaulet, used by Pope John XXIII in the 1960s, and the 600 Pullman Landaulet, adopted by Paul VI.

In the 1980s, the term “Popemobile” was officially associated with a Mercedes-Benz G-Class series 460, used by Pope John Paul II at events in St. Peter’s Square. This model evolved into a G 500 series 463, used by Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.

Besides the G-Class, customized versions of the M-Class and GLE also played important roles in public appearances. Many of these historical vehicles have been preserved and are now on display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart and the Vatican.

Mercedes-Benz Delivers First Electric ‘Popemobile’ to Pope Francis

Mercedes-Benz Made History by Delivering the First Fully Electric ‘Popemobile’ to Pope Francis, Reinforcing the Church’s Commitment to Sustainability and Innovation.

Tailored Technology and Design of the Popemobile

Tradition of Excellence

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

While a traditional school may take several days just to raise walls, in Malawi a 3D-printed school had its structure ready in 18 hours, welcomed children in June, and showed a new solution to the lack of classrooms.

Goodbye traditional washing machine: Panasonic surprises housewives with the NA-G5 featuring four drums, a 13 kg washer and dryer, a 12 kg dryer, independent mini washers, a heat pump, and a 4-in-1 system awarded at the German Design Award.

While cities spend fortunes patching potholes and tons of plastic become waste, the Netherlands transforms over 218,000 recycled cups into a modular bike path that can conceal drainage, cables, and pipes.

Empty beer bottle turns into sand, and the sand turns into concrete: an American city has discovered how to recycle glass locally using a solar-powered truck that crushes five tons of bottles per day in a local circular economy project.

Soot from rocket launches remains in the atmosphere for years and has a climate impact 540 times greater than pollution emitted near the Earth’s surface. Mega constellations like Starlink will account for 42% of the space sector’s climate impact by 2029.

Brazil and the USA create a working group to negotiate tariffs and end Section 301 after a meeting between Lula and Trump at the White House, and representatives from both countries have already met via videoconference with a 30-day deadline.

NASA plans a network of fuel stations in space that could reduce the cost of missions to the Moon and Mars. A satellite will be launched by a Rocket Lab rocket and will test technology that allows spacecraft to be refueled in orbit instead of carrying all the fuel from Earth.

Russia and China advance on a gas pipeline of more than 2,500 kilometers that will carry gas from Siberia to northern China; Putin’s visit to Beijing is also expected to result in an agreement to facilitate payments in ruble and yuan between the two countries.

Honda launches Elevate cheaper than Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass, and Volkswagen Taos in Brazil, with a 1.5 i-VTEC engine of 121 hp, manual or CVT transmission, and Honda Sensing; SUV shows a simpler, more rational, and accessible global Honda in India.

Mercedes-Benz Delivers First Electric ‘Popemobile’ to Pope Francis

Mercedes-Benz Made History by Delivering the First Fully Electric ‘Popemobile’ to Pope Francis, Reinforcing the Church’s Commitment to Sustainability and Innovation.

Tailored Technology and Design of the Popemobile

Tradition of Excellence

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

While a traditional school may take several days just to raise walls, in Malawi a 3D-printed school had its structure ready in 18 hours, welcomed children in June, and showed a new solution to the lack of classrooms.

Goodbye traditional washing machine: Panasonic surprises housewives with the NA-G5 featuring four drums, a 13 kg washer and dryer, a 12 kg dryer, independent mini washers, a heat pump, and a 4-in-1 system awarded at the German Design Award.

While cities spend fortunes patching potholes and tons of plastic become waste, the Netherlands transforms over 218,000 recycled cups into a modular bike path that can conceal drainage, cables, and pipes.

Empty beer bottle turns into sand, and the sand turns into concrete: an American city has discovered how to recycle glass locally using a solar-powered truck that crushes five tons of bottles per day in a local circular economy project.

Honda launches Elevate cheaper than Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass, and Volkswagen Taos in Brazil, with a 1.5 i-VTEC engine of 121 hp, manual or CVT transmission, and Honda Sensing; SUV shows a simpler, more rational, and accessible global Honda in India.

Used Honda Fit that many Brazilians overlook offers a trunk space of up to 1,045 liters with Magic Seat, a 1.5 i-VTEC engine with 116 hp, fuel consumption of 14.1 km/l on the highway, and seat technology that no popular SUV offers for the same price.

New Honda City 2027 emerges without camouflage, reveals controversial interior before debut and indicates changes that could retire the hatch in Brazil

Man pays $140,000 for Tesla Model S, tries to sell it just two years later and is shocked to discover the car is now worth less than a third.

Geely EX2 Pro arrives in Brazil cheaper than BYD Dolphin, with rear-wheel drive, 375 liters of trunk space, 70 liters in the front compartment, charging from 30% to 80% in 18 minutes, and 12,000 orders; Chinese electric targets those who wanted Dolphin Mini with more space.

Soot from rocket launches remains in the atmosphere for years and has a climate impact 540 times greater than pollution emitted near the Earth’s surface. Mega constellations like Starlink will account for 42% of the space sector’s climate impact by 2029.

Brazil and the USA create a working group to negotiate tariffs and end Section 301 after a meeting between Lula and Trump at the White House, and representatives from both countries have already met via videoconference with a 30-day deadline.

NASA plans a network of fuel stations in space that could reduce the cost of missions to the Moon and Mars. A satellite will be launched by a Rocket Lab rocket and will test technology that allows spacecraft to be refueled in orbit instead of carrying all the fuel from Earth.

Russia and China advance on a gas pipeline of more than 2,500 kilometers that will carry gas from Siberia to northern China; Putin’s visit to Beijing is also expected to result in an agreement to facilitate payments in ruble and yuan between the two countries.

Honda launches Elevate cheaper than Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Creta, Jeep Compass, and Volkswagen Taos in Brazil, with a 1.5 i-VTEC engine of 121 hp, manual or CVT transmission, and Honda Sensing; SUV shows a simpler, more rational, and accessible global Honda in India.