Hybrid powertrain can’t deliver trademark Rolls-Royce ‘waftability’

Rolls-Royce has said hybrid powertrains aren’t able to offer the same ‘waftability’ the marque is known for. 

In recent years, we’ve seen the automotive industry move towards hybrids and battery-powered vehicles in a bid to combat emissions. 

Numerous countries have introduced – or will be introducing  – strict emissions regulations and carmakers are having to adapt to ensure they can keep up.

However, while many manufacturers are opting to produce hybrids – rather than all-electrics – it seems the luxury British brand will not be joining them. 

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Rolls-Royce stock has soared post-pandemic

The luxury carmaker recently revealed plans for an all-electric line-up for the model year 2030 and is rumored to have a couple of brand-new EVs up its sleeve. 

Rolls-Royce has already dipped its toe in the EV market, with the launch of the Spectre late last year.

At its launch, director of global communications Emma Begley said the car was solid proof ‘you can make a fabulous Rolls-Royce without our V12 in front of it’.

The move into EV appears to have paid off for Rolls-Royce. 

Upon the launch of the Spectre, US customers were facing waits of up to 18 months for deliveries, and while this has since dropped to around six months – things still look pretty rosy for Rolls-Royce. 

If forecasts are correct, profits are tipped to continue to rise in the coming years.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Rolls-Royce stock performance has been incredible and seems to show no signs of slowing. 

So much so that had you invested just $12,700 in its shares two years ago, by May this year they would have skyrocketed to roughly $66,000. Not a bad investment, right?

And with a couple of new EVs rumored to be up its sleeve, it seems like the brand’s stock might continue to have a very profitable future ahead. 

The company appears to have ruled out a move into hybrids

But it seems that while an all-electric line-up might be on the cards, the company won’t be releasing a hybrid motor anytime soon. 

Newly appointed CEO Chris Brownridge said the marque is simply unwilling to compromise when it comes to the ‘waftability and effortless power’ its cars are known for – and this means its a thumbs down for hybrids. 

“A hybrid is not something we would envisage,” he told Automotive News. 

He also appeared to suggest that even after 2030, the company would be keeping its options open when it came to which powertrains it would use. 

“We have the ability to go all-electric by 2030, but we will be led by our clients,” Brownridge told Automotive News late last month. 

“Different regions of the world will progress in terms of their powertrain at different rates. So it’s important that we can accommodate that.”

Looks like this could be an interesting few years for Rolls-Royce.