Governorate of Vatican City State
Fourteen new electric vehicles for the sustainable mobility development programme
The Governorate increasingly embraces green energy
Fourteen electric vehicles – four passenger Melex intended for the Gendarmerie and ten utility Goupil for the needs of Vatican City State – have been provided by Exelentia (Italian Mobility Factory), enabling the Governorate to continue the implementation of its sustainable mobility development programme, launched in November 2023 and entitled “Ecological Conversion 2030”.
Exelentia will donate two more electric vehicles, specially modified to meet the needs of the Pope.
The first four Melex 343 vehicles for the Gendarmerie, two of which will be made available to the Fire Brigade, will be delivered on Wednesday morning, 16 April, in the square of the Governorate.
The Melex 343 is a small and comfortable passenger vehicle, completely electric, suitable for easy movement in historic centres and sensitive areas, such as railway stations, ports and airports, as well as parks and sports centres. It is used by the Gendarmerie, as well as other forces of order, for its agility and robustness, which allows for more efficient patrol services, even in interior areas and spaces with a high pedestrian density. It is suitably equipped to house first aid and support equipment in the event of disasters and fires.
With this new delivery, the Governorate’s commitment to gradually replacing its cars with electric vehicles continues, with the aim of making the car fleet zero-impact by 2030.
In addition to this, the state is moving forward with the implementation of the charging network for electric cars in its territory and extra-territorial areas. In fact, on 20 December 2024, 20 ‘fast’ charging points on 10 columns and 2 ‘ultra fast’ charging points on an additional column at the side of the entrance to the Paul VI Hall became operational.
As part of the project to obtain energy from renewable sources to reduce CO2 emissions, the inauguration last December of the new photovoltaic glass roofing of the Cortile delle Corazze at the entrance to the Vatican Museums.
Vatican City, 14 April 2025
