Rolls-Royce working on Electric Test Vehicle

While news about a car manufacturer working on developing its own full-electric model isn’t one that raises too many eyebrows these days, it’s the automotive brands and the uniqueness of their concept cars that continues to intrigue us.

That being said, it’s not everyday that a you hear about a luxury car maker, the likes of Rolls Royce, showing interest in building an automobile with all ‘electric’ capabilites. However, the announcement of the company’s development project on a fully electric powered Phantom is now official, and the 102 EX or the Phantom Experimental Electric (EF) is the name Rolls Royce has decided to go with.  

Speaking on this dynamic move by Rolls Royce, CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, speaking from the company’s headquarters in Goodwood, said “We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment. With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.” 

Using the 102EX as a working test bed for a global tour that encompasses Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America, Rolls Royce will conduct thorough tests on the electric drivetrain powering its Phantom model, and through test drives Rolls Royce will test the opinions and reactions to alternative drive-train options for its cars.

While there are no plans to develop a production version as yet, Rolls Royce will use its EX model to encourage a dialogue with its existing owners and stakeholders to better understand the suitability and acceptance of such a working model.

These include the car’s ability to deliver an acceptable range between re-charges and to operate in extreme weather conditions. But also to benchmark reliability and quality against customer expectations of the world’s pinnacle automotive brand.

In preparation for the Geneva debut, Rolls-Royce will launch the website www.electricluxury.com this week, a portal to fuel a wider global debate seeking views on the question of electric luxury from media, VIPs and stakeholders. The site will also deliver regular updates of the car’s progress while on tour.