The world may have adopted battery-electric vehicles, but the Pope is geared toward hydrogen-electric propulsion.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan gifted Pope Francis a hydrogen fuel-cell Toyota Mirai. Toyota designed the model specifically for the Pope and delivered it near his residence in Vatican City. During the ceremony, personalities like Rev. Father Domenico Makoto Wada from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan, and his Excellency Seiji Okada, the Ambassador of Japan to the Holy See, were present. A team from Toyota was also present at the delivery, consisting of Miguel Fonseca, senior vice-president of Toyota Motor Europe, and Mauro Caruccio, CEO of Toyota Motor Italia.
The Mirai is a hydrogen-electric vehicle or HEV. The car creates electricity by combining hydrogen and ambient oxygen in fuel cells. As a result, the Mirai only produces clean water, which makes it a zero-emission vehicle. After all, ‘Mirai’ in Japanese means “the future.”
Pope’s version is 5.1 meters long and 2.7 meters high since it includes a unique roof, where the Pope can stand and be seen.
The most prominent feature of the Mirai is the 310-mile range, which is longer than comparable electric cars. And, even better, Toyota’s hydrogen car can be refilled in only five minutes.
The Pope has always been vocal about his interests in environmental matters. He also opened up about his interests in the encyclical “Laudato si” in 2015. He has always spoken about how we need to save the earth by creating an eco-friendly community. And, in that case, a Toyota Mirai is the best-suited car for him!
There have been many pope-mobiles before this one, including Fiats, Mercedes, and even Lamborghinis. But none of them has been so eco-friendly yet!
