Rolls Royce considering electric Phantom?

Rolls-Royce owners are usually known more for their excess. So when the luxury brand began investigating the benefits of an electric car, Mother Earth was that last thing on its mind. Instead the silence and power curve that come with an electric motor has Rolls seeing green.

"We stand for unmatched refinement and you can’t get a quieter and less intrusive engine than a well engineered electric motor. Truly, the loudest noise you would hear would be the tick of the clock," says Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves. "We also stand for strong and instant torque – and an electric motor delivers maximum torque instantly."

If an electric Rolls-Royce were to appear, it would likely borrow the technology that its parent company BMW is developing for cars like the electric Mini. One event that may tip the scales in favor of an electric Phantom would be if urban areas begin to tax or limit vehicles with high emissions. Similar taxation like the congestion tax increase that was struck down in London could have the ulta-rich plugging in their Rollers.