Rolls-Royce clients unimpressed by the electric Phantom
 

At this year’s Geneva Motor Show Rolls-Royce rolled out the 102EX (or Phantom Experimental Electric), the brand’s first model to use an electric powertrain. The automaker launched a test drive tour to find out if clients think that an electric model can deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience. The answer, evidently, is no.

<table align="" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1"> <tbody><tr> <td>http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/132...102EX-i003.jpg</td> </tr> <tr> <td id="image_1_caption" class="caption" style="padding:0px 6px;">Photo: Rolls-Royce</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, president and CEO of the prestigious brand, said consumers had mixed feelings about potential electric Rolls-Royces. Buyers of the Phantom and Ghost often live outside major cities, and a 160-km range just isn’t enough for them, he believes.

No one has yet approached the automaker to order an EV, so Rolls-Royce has decided not to market any at the moment.

A hybrid model is still a possibility, however.

"Let's wait and see what our customers are telling us, but hybrids have a certain capability to deliver both electric driving combined with a normal combustion engine, and that might be a solution," said Mueller-Oetvoes.