A picture supplied by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars of the grill of its new electric car, the Phantom 102EX. The first electric-powered Rolls-Royce car will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1, the luxury vehicle maker announced.

The first electric-powered Rolls-Royce car will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1, the luxury vehicle maker announced on Sunday.

The one-off Phantom 102EX, to be fully electric-powered, will then go on a global tour taking in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America, according to the Goodwood, England-based company.

We have engineered the worlds first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment, chief executive Torsten Muller-Otvos said. With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said it wants to test opinions and reactions from owners, enthusiasts, members of the public and the media.

"While there are no plans to develop a production version, as one of the companys EX models it will serve to begin a dialogue with existing owners and stakeholders, posing as well as answering questions of its audience," the company said said.

These include the cars ability to deliver an acceptable range between re-charges and to operate in extreme weather conditions, it said.

I must be convinced that any alternative drive-train we choose for the future delivers an authentic Rolls-Royce experience, Muller-Otvos said. It must be a technology that is right for our customers, our brand and which sets us on a sound footing for a sustainable future.

Full details of the car's specification are being kept under wraps until its Geneva launch.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is a division of German car company BMW and is no longer connected to aero engine maker Rolls-Royce PLC.

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(c) 2011 AFP