In 2010, not even Obama made it: he wanted a hybrid car at all costs, at least for the escort. But the secret services not only told him “not talked about”, but added (publicly) that there were “huge problems of security and reliability”, effectively destroying the image of that technology that Barack instead wanted to promote.
The Cadillac One, the “Beast” of the presidents of the United States
Now to try it is Joe Biden, on the strength of the fact that after 11 years the technology of electric cars has made great strides. But there are two obstacles to achieving the dream of the new president of the United States. The first is “bureaucratic”: the One, also called “The Beast” (The Beast, given its weight, size and level of armor) is built by General Motors on commission from the secret services every 8 years, as has been the case since 1990. And since the latest version of the presidential machine had been delivered to the White House in September 2018, Biden is expected to have the new car only in 2025, that is, after his term as president.
It would help an ad hoc law to speed up the change of car. But the legislative function, in the US, is mainly the responsibility of Parliament. A project, to become law, must be approved in identical terms by both houses. In the event of disagreement between the two branches, there are generally no postponements and new readings, but the Senate and the Chamber mostly proceed, especially for more important and complex bills, the establishment of a mixed and joint conciliation commission (Conference Committee), charged with finding a compromise. Complicated, but doable.
The technical question
On the other hand, what appears more difficult is to overcome the technical problems: the Beast already weighs 10 tons today (they are the equivalent of 10 Fiat Pandas), so going beyond this limit would be impossible, also due to the risk of destroying the roads it passes through. In addition, this mysterious General Motors with the appearance of a Cadillac requires a “considerable power” (as specified by the secret services, which do not state how many horsepower it really has) which could only be provided by an electric motor powered by a large additional battery pack. But we don’t even know where to mount.
There’s more: this kind of cross between a tank and a bunker with wheels it has a steel, aluminum, titanium and ceramic body, 20 cm thick doors and is equipped with a pair of machine guns and a cannon that fires tear gas. And where theoretically the batteries of the electric version should go (i.e. under the car) there is now a bottom composed of a steel plate which incorporates a tank filled with a special liquid that prevents the car from overturning in the event of an explosion or accident. The driver’s window is the only one that opens, but only by 8 centimeters.
Everything is shrouded in total mystery, but we know that there is also a night vision system to travel at full speed with the headlights off, an armor to withstand any type of bullet, anti-missile system, blinding flashes and the ability to shoot various types of gas around the car, survival kits with the president’s blood bags and much more. This Caddy is then protected by F16 and assault helicopters, while to throw off any attackers she can travel hidden together with other 40 identical limousines in all respects. Just as he can do from Airforce One, the president can control the armed forces and nuclear weapons directly from the cockpit: for this reason, when he is on board, an electronic system cancels any radio pulses around the machine. Other problems to solve for the electric version of the Beast.
Finished like a luxury car
In the midst of so many terrible weapons there are also frivolous endowments, such as wood trim and dark blue leather with presidential seal embroidered in the center of the rear seat backrest and shown on the inner panels of the rear doors, flags on the fenders (the flag of the United States is fixed on the right one, on the left the presidential banner when the head of the White House is on board) illuminated by high density lights mounted flush with the bodywork.
But where did Biden’s desire for the electric presidential car come from? Obviously for political reasons, but also from the many advances circulated in the media regarding the next one Cadillac’s electric flagship, the Celestiq concept, which could be the starting point. But the rumors published by the American press on the possible arrival of an electric car for Biden led the secret services to take a clear position on the matter: on the official website of the Agency we read that “the secret services continue to be responsible for the supply. , of the guide, of the maintenance and of protection of the president’s vehicles at all times. “As if to say: we decide how the president moves, certainly not him. In some way, extinguishing the dreams of an electric beast for Biden.
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