Reports from the White House indicate that US President Joe Biden may break the age-long official transport tradition by changing the country’s Fuel guzzling presidential official car (the Beast), to Electric-powered Limousine.
Responding to a media question, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, was quoted to have confirmed that Biden is in favour of an electric presidential limousine.
“That’s certainly something the President has talked about and is an objective for him,” said, Psaki, according to a US news medium. An electric beast? On AF1,
Asked if President Biden will electrify the WH vehicle fleet, including the presidential limo known as “the Beast,” she responded: “That’s certainly something the President has talked about and is an objective for him.”
What is unclear is whether a completely new Battery-and-motor powered presidential limousine would be built for the US president or the exiting Beast would simply be converted.
Going for the latter option might be a Herculean task, given the weight of the car, which runs is powered by a 5.0-liter diesel engine, because of its weight and size and for the fact that diesel is less flammable in a firefight.
Best described as a Fortress on the wheel, the Presidential limousine (the Beast), weighs about 9,100 kg. Designed to protect the president, the car, which features run-flat tires, night-vision devices, smoke screens and oil slicks as defensive measures against attackers, is hermetically sealed against fluid attacks.
Also reportedly featuring armor made of aluminum, ceramic, and steel, the Beast’s exterior walls have a thickness of eight inches (200 mm). Its windows are multi-layered and five inches (130 mm) thick, and each door is believed to weigh as much as those on a Boeing 757.
From the foregoing, two factors would stand in the way of converting the Beast to Electric. First, the battery capacity that will power a vehicle that heavy is unavailable. Secondly, the US presidential car is designed for safety and the ability to navigate quickly away from a dangerous environment.
The question, therefore, is what happens in case the president visits a country, where there are no EV charging stations? The car may have to come with a mobile charging station.
Notwithstanding, being an auto enthusiast and a president that is determined to walk his talks when it comes to combating climate change, Biden is likely to give whatever it takes to ensure that his official car runs on green energy instead of the dirty diesel 5.0-liter engine the Beast is carrying at the moment.
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