The Hidden Costs of Electric Presidential Limo Replacements: A Reality Check

Why doesn't Joe Biden ask the Secret Service to order an electric replacement for the fleet of presidential limos? The simple answer is that neither Ford nor GM builds an EV with the necessary size and specifications to replace "The Beast". This leaves Tesla, which does not currently produce anything close to the size of "The Beast".

It's a valid question, but it's also worth considering that the president, despite his high profile, has a long and complex list of responsibilities. Managing the motorcade is just one piece of the puzzle in his broad agenda. Moreover, the presidential motorcade consists of highly customized, military-grade vehicles. Retrofitting or building new ones isn't feasible unless absolutely necessary.

One might argue that this is a matter of priorities. There are far more pressing matters to address, such as national security, economic policies, and climate change initiatives. The presidential motorcade, while a significant aspect of the presidency, is not typically among the top concerns for the White House.

Why Is It So Complex?

The presidential limos are, in essence, highly modified military vehicles. They are incredibly expensive and meticulously customized to meet the stringent requirements of the Secret Service. These requirements include nearly impeccable security, comfort, and safety measures, all of which are non-negotiable. Retrofitting or building an electric version would be an enormous undertaking that would need to meet these same standards, which is not currently feasible with any manufacturer's existing vehicles.

The Role of the Secret Service

It's important to remember that the Secret Service, not the President, determines the requirements and specifications for these vehicles. While the President could make requests, the implementation and feasibility are ultimately the responsibility of the Secret Service. Therefore, even if the President wanted to make changes, it would need to align with the Secret Service's protocols.

A Call for Change?

Sometime in the future, it is possible that we will see an electric presidential limo. The Biden administration has issued an executive order calling for a majority of federal vehicle purchases to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. This order affects about 380,000 federal vehicles and includes plans to build 96,000 additional charging facilities to support the transition to an electric fleet. Additionally, 30,000 electric vehicles will be purchased annually.

These initiatives suggest that the transition to electric vehicles is underway, but for presidential limos, the current reality is that there are no proven electric models that meet the size and performance requirements of "The Beast".

Environmental Implications

Another aspect to consider is the environmental impact. Transitioning "The Beast" to an electric vehicle might seem like a positive step, but it would require a full charge just to move the vehicle out of the garage due to its enormous weight. Furthermore, the carbon footprint of flying a 5-ton vehicle to distant locations for presidential visits is significantly higher than the emissions from a less frequent use of an electric vehicle.

The transition to EVs in the federal fleet, including presidential vehicles, is a complex and necessary step towards reducing emissions. However, for "The Beast", the current reality is that the specifications and requirements are not yet aligned with the capabilities of available electric models.