In what might be the quietest automotive revolution since someone invented carpeted floor mats, Rolls-Royce is preparing to launch its second electric vehicle. And before you start writing angry letters about tradition being ruined, remember that Rolls-Royce has always been about wafting along in silence. They've just found a new way to do it without burning dinosaur juice.Chris Brownridge, the new CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, has confirmed that another electric model will join the Spectre in the company's lineup later this year. He's being about as forthcoming with details as a Swiss banker at a tax audit, but what he has said is rather interesting.According to Brownridge, the Spectre has been received with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for free champagne at charity galas. Apparently, it "delivers a remarkable Rolls-Royce experience" with its silent drive and "waftability" - a word that only Rolls-Royce can use without sounding ridiculous. It's like they've taken their traditional values of silence and smoothness and turned them up to 11 by removing the engine entirely.What's particularly interesting is Rolls-Royce's stance on hybrid powertrains - they're not interested. While other luxury manufacturers are hedging their bets with plug-in hybrids, Rolls-Royce is going all-in on pure electric power. It's a bit like deciding to learn to swim by jumping straight into the deep end, except the pool is filled with very expensive electricity.This commitment to electrification comes at an interesting time. While global demand for EVs is showing signs of cooling faster than a champagne bucket at a millionaire's wedding, Rolls-Royce is sticking to its plans to phase out combustion engines entirely by 2030. It's a bold strategy, but then again, when your average customer has a net worth higher than the GDP of a small country, perhaps traditional market trends don't apply. The success of the Spectre suggests they might be onto something. When driven around New York City recently, it proved that electric power might actually be more Rolls-Royce than Rolls-Royce. After all, what could be more dignified than gliding through Manhattan in absolute silence, looking down upon the peasants in their noisy combustion vehicles?Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go start saving for an electric Rolls-Royce. By my calculations, if I sell everything I own and live on beans for the next 40 years, I might be able to afford the optional umbrella holder.
