Only time will tell how Rolls-Royce customers take to the idea of an electric Roller. The 102EX, a one-off, fully electric Phantom, will debut at the Geneva Show and then take off on a lengthy ‘tour’, allowing Rolls-Royce to gather a vast bank of research data.

The research data, however, are not intended to be of a purely technical nature. Rolls-Royce’s primary aim, during the 102EX’s global tour of Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America, is to garner the opinions of Rolls-Royce owners and enthusiasts as to the desirability of an electric Rolls, by offering them test drives in the 102EX. These opinions will be “crucial in informing future decisions on alternative drive-trains for Rolls-Royce motor cars”. True democracy then, and a very wise precaution on the manufacturer’s part.



The 102EX, also known by the infinitely more thrilling name of ‘Phantom Experimental Electric’, is the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment, according to CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. But there are currently no plans to develop a production version. “I must be convinced that any alternative drive-train we choose for the future delivers an authentic Rolls-Royce experience,” he explains.



In anticipation of the Geneva debut, Rolls-Royce has launched the website www.electricluxury.com, aiming to fuel a global debate on the question of ‘electric luxury’. Full technical specifications for the 102EX will be announced at Geneva.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Rolls-Royce