The green credentials of Pope Benedict XVI were increased yet again when he received an electric car to use within the grounds of the Vatican and his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.
French car maker Renault presented the Pope with his very own white Kangoo, pimped out with the Papal coat of arms on its doors. The Kangoo Maxi van has a 44 kilowatt electric motor and lithium-ion battery and can travel 105 miles without recharging, although it will not be used as a Popemobile due to its lack of necessary security features.
Benedict has already made his mark as a green activist by installing photovoltaic cells in the Vatican's main auditorium and has joined a reforestation project to offset carbon dioxide emissions. The driving force behind Benedict's green schemes is his need to protect God's creation.
The city state intends that by 2020, 20% of its electricity will be provided by renewable energy.
