German automaker Volkswagen has delivered the first of nearly 40 electric vehicles to the Vatican as part of a plan that will see the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church decarbonise its vehicle fleet by 2030.
A pair of Volkswagen ID.3 Pro Performance models were handed over to the Pope last week by company executives including Imelda Labbé, member of the board of management for sales, marketing, and after-sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars, and Dr. Christian Dahlheim, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen Financial Services AG.
A total of nearly 40 Volkswagen EVs will be delivered to the Vatican starting at the beginning of 2024 including models from the ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5.
The partnership will also expand to include zero-emission vehicles from the wider Volkswagen Group.
“The electrification of fleets is becoming increasingly important across the globe,” said Imelda Labbé, speaking during the vehicle handover in Vatican City.
“The fact that Vatican employees will now also be among our ID. drivers in the future is a great target and honour for our brand and underscores the attractiveness of our all-electric ID. models.”
The move is part of the Vatican City State’s larger Ecological Conversion 2030 program which it launched alongside the delivery of its new electric vehicles.
In addition to delivery of new electric vehicles, the Vatican City State will also implement its own charging network across its territory and extraterritorial areas. The charging network will also be available to its employees and will be powered exclusively by renewable energy sources.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.