President Joe Biden is mulling the idea of replacing his Cadillac presidential limousine, which is colloquially known as ‘The Beast’, with a more eco-friendly, battery-powered state limo.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked by reporters this week if Biden would be open to the idea of electrifying the White House’s vehicle fleet, including the presidential limousine that he was seen riding in during his visit to Ford’s Dearborn HQ this week. Psaki said Biden is not only open to the idea, but that he has outwardly expressed a desire to replace it with a battery-powered alternative in the past.
“That’s certainly something the President has talked about and is an objective for him,” Psaki revealed.
The current Cadillac presidential limousine was introduced under the Trump Administration’s tenure and replaced the Cadillac state car that was active from 2009 to 2018. It’s believed to be powered by a Duramax diesel engine that is closely related to the 6.6L L5P V8 found in GM’s full-size trucks like the Chevy Silverado HD. A diesel engine was allegedly selected as diesel fuel is widely available in almost all countries around the world and is not as volatile as gasoline. The diesel engine is also reliable and has plenty of low-end torque to motivate the immensely heavy limo, which is rumored to weigh over 20,000 lbs.
Since the current Cadillac presidential limousine is a diesel, it’s not possible for it to be converted into an EV. GM mostly likely has the capability to build Biden a new battery-powered version, however, which could utilize its new Ulitum lithium battery system and Ultium Drive electric motors. A high-performance electric powertrain would theoretically have plenty of torque to get The Beast up to speed, though it would also need plenty of electric range in case of emergency situations.
The president has also expressed a desire in the past to electrify the entire federal vehicle fleet, which consists of over 645,000 cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs. Biden hinted at this goal while on the campaign trail last year, saying his administration would “make a major federal commitment to purchase clean vehicles for federal, state, tribal, postal, and local fleets.” Experts predict that electrifying the entire federal fleet would cost around $20 billion USD.
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Sales decreased 5.6 percent to 16,670 units during the first ten months of 2024.
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An EV Beast would be awesome, but travels by air from city to city, are we ok flying lithium Ion batteries now?
It would have to travel by air. The roads and interstate will destroy anything less than an army tank. Fix the roads first so I can drive to work then worry about converting the federal government to electric vehicles.
"though it would also need plenty of electric range in case of emergency situations."
Huh? What are you talking about? That is not a runaway car that the president would trying to shake assassins during a cross country high speed chase. That thing never goes further than 10 miles , they use the presidential chopper for further distances. It gets transported everywhere aboard air force one and used to travel to the meetings with foreign leaders from nearby residence/hotel. Usually they don't even wait for the offload of it from air force one and send the president with the armored Suburban after landing at the airports.
The Beast does not ride on Air Force One, it rides on a C-17 cargo jet that typically arrives before the president with the contingent of secret service to secure the arrival.
Not true mate. The beast travels further in some situations.
Lol. If there seriously want the beast to increase in size by a factor of 2! Hmm lets see batteries will add more weight. The battery pack will need to be shielded electronically and physically from attack. Motors will need to be able to account for the extra weight. Thus reducing range further. Better EMP protection will be needed too. As an EV is truly a computer on wheels.
This would be better served as a hybrid or better yet mild hybrid. What's next he will say the M1 abrams replacement will need to be electric too. Somethings just make sense to leave as ICE.
If this came to term during his reign it would be great so they the powers at be can see how much of an inconvenience it is having EVs. They will likely place a beast in every state capitol and on foreign military bases as it would be so tedious charging the thing for such short journeys. But hey I'm not the one pushing for the charge up method of transport.
The beast is already quite heavy, makes the Hummer EV look like, a light weight.
It's the opposite. Battery buses run at around 400 volts and motors similarly. Internal combustion engines have critical sensors (e.g. CPS, MAF) operating at volts, and actuators (fuel injectors) at 12 volts. So arguably, the power electronics in a EV are inherently more robust, because they have to.
Hybrid/EV electronics are already very well shielded in metal merely so that people don't get electrocuted or they start a fire in a crash. Compare that to the unshielded wiring you get on an engine.
Transistors that can efficiently run at hundreds of volts without burning up are a major advance in today's EVs and hybrids versus those of the late 90's.
Wow. I know how much more heavy my S60 T8 is over my CT4 and the weight certainly shows. As some stated above and we all know, electric vehicles are way heavier. So if the beast is already an asphalt crushing 20,000 lbs or more, what would an all electric one be? You are getting to semi truck weights and they have multiple axles/wheels to disperse the weight. An all electric beast would need more tires! haha.
Biden should pay a weight tax for the road damage his golf cart will cause to roads.
Give Joe a Prius.
Exhibit 87 on why he is awful president focused on the wrong things....
Why can’t Biden focus on spending billions of tax dollars on a border fence that falls over in high wind or spending millions changing the paint scheme on Air Force one like the last guy? Those were all really good things to focus on!
At least Trump tried to bring RESPECT back. unlike obama/biden.
So happy he brought DIGNITY and RESPECT back to the USA.
He was very respectful when he mocked a disabled person, when he paid hush money to a prostitute, and when he boasted about grabbing women by their p***y. Also, when he motorboated giuliani in drag:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IrE6FMpai8
come a long way since Dealey Plaza.
too bad biden doesn't visit dealey plaza in a prius convertible.
Someone floated the idea but it wasn’t Joe. He doesn’t even know what day it is.
OR what planet he's on!
Oh so my guess is you are the all knowing one. Like the incredible Oz, the man behind the curtain. Are you trying to tell me the the last idiot who left in January was a better choice. That fool was just a total loose cannon and that is just the beginning. Moving on is what we are doing, yes please come join. The past is the past.
Stolen election, hoax virus.
So in your mind, exactly what is it that xiden's puppet masters have achieved?
Dr. Bob,
More people are giving you a thumbs down than up! You must be a Proctologist? Start by getting your head out of your ass! There's no hope for you idiotic O'Biden supporters!!!
No matter how it’s powered, that rendering is ghastly looking. The new 2018 car actually looks pretty good for what it is, which is essentially an armored tank. The 2008 car was always hideous too so please let’s not go backward in the design department.
Just give old Joey a Schwinn, put a smile on the old timer!
Dan, that's WITH "training wheels" AND a helmet to save what little brain he has left!!!