Rolls builds electric Phantom

This is the Rolls-Royce 102EX: a near-silent, emissions-free version of the near-silent, not-emissions-free Phantom.

The company has built the one-off luxury road-yacht - dubbed Phantom Experimentla Electric (EE) - to begin testing alternative drive-trains which could power Rollers of the future, and the concept will be displayed at the Geneva motor show next week.

See teaser pics of the electric Phantom

Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos said: "I must be convinced that any alternative drive-train we choose for the future delivers an authentic Rolls-Royce experience."

The 102EX will begin a global testing tour taking in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North America to test reliability and quality, and to deliver an acceptable range between recharges and extreme weather conditions.

Rolls has said it wants to gather the reactions and opinions of owners, enthusiasts and members of the public to see what the world thinks of an electric Phantom.

100 Rollers drive through London - gallery

A zero-emission Rolls with no noise? With the price of petrol currently sitting at one-kidney per litre, it seems to make sense. They could make it work...