Vatican City has gone electric, and it has done so in about the most charming way possible. Fiat has delivered 20 Topolino quadricycles to the Governorate of the Vatican City State, along with a number of TRIS three-wheel electric delivery vehicles, as part of the Holy See’s sustainability programme called Ecological Conversion 2030.
Why the Topolino?
The choice of vehicle makes a certain amount of sense for Vatican City specifically. The world’s smallest country covers just 44 hectaresand has a population of under 1,000 people. The Topolino’s range is more than sufficient to cover the entire country several times over on a single charge, which is more than can be said for almost any other EV currently on the market relative to the territory it needs to cover.
What Is the Fiat Topolino?
The Topolino is a small two-seat electric quadricycle that Fiat revived a few years ago. It is powered by a 5.4kWh battery, tops out at 45km/h, and has a range of roughly 75 kilometres. It charges from a standard household socket in about four hours. It also produces 6kW, which is roughly the output of a decent lawnmower, and takes about ten seconds to reach its maximum speed. Importantly, it is also extremely cute.
Battery: 5.4kWh. Top speed: 45km/h. Range: approx. 75km. Charge time: approx. 4 hours from a standard household socket. Output: 6kW. UK price: £8,995.
The TRIS Delivery Vehicles
The accompanying TRIS vehicles are a modern take on the classic Piaggio Ape three-wheel delivery truck and can carry two standard Euro pallets in their flatbed tray, with a payload of up to 420 kilograms and a range of around 90 kilometres from a 6.9kWh battery. They will be used for last-mile delivery within the city-state.
Vatican’s Ecological Conversion 2030
Vatican City is aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of its vehicle fleet as part of a broader environmental commitment, and the Topolino order is one of the more visible steps in that direction. One of the Topolinos was reportedly delivered personally by Top Gear, though further details on that particular chapter of automotive history are yet to be shared.
The UK price for a Topolino is £8,995. Whether the Vatican negotiated a bulk discount on its order of 20 has not been confirmed.
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