Rolls-Royce unveils electric Phantom 102EX

Rolls-Royce unveiled the first ever all-electric, super-luxury car at the Geneva Motor Show. We take a look at the Phantom Experimental Electric 102EX

Whether we like it or not, electric cars are here to stay – a fact made rather clear by a lot of the mainstream auto manufacturers turning their attention to this alternate propulsion technology in a bid to do their bit for the environment and reducing mankind’s reliance on rapidly reducing natural resources such as petroleum. And while electric cars, be it as concept or production, have been around in the form of small, utilitarian runabouts to sporty two seat roadsters, no one has really done a full-fledged luxury car powered purely by electrons in motion – until now that is. Taking the first step in the direction of making super-luxurious electric cars has been none other than the most renowned name in the business, Rolls-Royce.

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Unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Rolls-Royce 102EX, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), represents one of the most significant initiatives taken by the company in recent years. But as the name indicates, the Phantom EE isn’t a concept car, but a fully functioning experimental vehicle to carefully test the opinions and reactions to alternative drive-train options of a range of stakeholders including owners, enthusiasts, members of the public and the media. This working test bed though is not slated for production, but seeks to explore established BEV technologies and pose and answer some serious questions about the viability of such a vehicle. Can the Phantom EE deliver an acceptable range for customers without frequent re-charging? Is there confidence in its ability to operate in extreme conditions? Will reliability and quality be consistent with expectations of one of the world’s most aspirational automotive brands? But more importantly, the question the Phantom EE is really designed to address is whether an all-electric drive-train is able to deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience for customers.