The electric version of a Rolls Royce Phantom presented by the British luxury car maker at this year’s 2011 Geneva Auto Show will not spawn any production version, at least not yet, according to the company’s CEO, Torsten Mueller-Oetvoe.
In March, when the model was presented, Rolls said it was trying to probe the public’s reaction to an electric luxury car, and only after having enough data would decide whether to build it or not. Now, some three months later, the model has been given the temporary axe, not because people showed little interest, but because the model, at least for now, would make no sense.
According to the CEO, since most of the people buying Rolls Royce cars live some great miles away from cities, the limited range current batteries can provide will not help them very much. Meaning their interest in the model is low.
The electric Rolls Royce 102EX is powered by two motors and a single-speed transmission (combined to create 389 hp and 590 lb-ft / 800 Nm of torque). It reaches 0-60 mph in less than 8 seconds and has a top speed of 99 mph (159 km/h). The nickel cobalt manganese battery (one of the largest ever installed in a car), gives the model a range of 125 miles (201 km).
Even if for now the idea of driving an electric Rolls Royce has been left aside, the manufacturer’s officials do admit that a hybrid model would make a better choice than an EV for the moment, both for the company and for the clients.
