Rolls-Royce plans to unveil what it describes as the first ever ultra-luxury electric vehicle at the upcoming Geneva Show in March. Code-named the 102EX, the battery-powered Phantom is unlikely to go into production anytime soon, but will be used by the company as a research tool to “seek clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future”.
“We have to be convinced any future alternative drivetrain delivers an authentic Rolls-Royce experience,” says CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös – mirroring comments made by previous CEO Tom Purves a little over two years ago that the near-silence of EVs and that fact that full torque is available immediately, ties in perfectly with the Rolls ethos.
The 102EX will form part of a global “road show” with Rolls owners and enthusiasts from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America that will be invited to test drive the car to gather feedback about consumer acceptance of alternative powertrains. “The car will help us to find answers to questions such as to what constitutes an acceptable range between battery recharges and how this technology could perform in extreme weather conditions,” adds Müller-Ötvös.
It is likely that any alternative technologies will first make its appearance in a smaller vehicle such as the Ghost. No technical detail is available yet, but to join the debate, members of the public can add their two cents worth and keep track of the development of the 102EX at the company’s microsite.
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