Currently reading: Ferrari says first EV will pioneer new technology

Italian marque's highly anticipated electric supercar will only arrive once technology is sophisticated enough

The first electric Ferrari, which is tipped to arrive after 2025, will utilise new technology to ensure it can deliver on the brand’s heritage, commercial boss Enrico Galliera has said.

The Italian firm has yet to confirm any plans or a timeline for its first EV, although leaked patents earlier this year hint that it’s working on a four-wheel-drive two-seater with a motor mounted to each wheel.

Galliera ruled out an electric Ferrari for at least five years and was adamant that this plan wouldn’t be accelerated by the arrival of new luxury super-EV makers such as Pininfarina.

“There are some competitors entering the market with new technology that we will look at, but will that be a problem to Ferrari? I think not, because of the specific niche Ferrari targets,” Galliera told Autocar.

“And will that trigger interest in that market for Ferrari? No. We firmly believe that battery technology is not yet developed enough to meet the needs of a supercar. In the next five years, we do not believe the technology will be able to meet the needs of a Ferrari.”

However, when asked if the company would be able to continue to operate in the UK if the planned sales ban on non-electric cars is introduced in 2032, Galliera said: “We will meet all the regulations that will come into force to compete in a market, and we don’t believe that such regulations will force us to make special plans.”

1 Ferrari ev patent sketch

Galliera didn’t rule out a Ferrari EV but said the timeline for one is purely dependent on technical developments.

He said: “As soon as electrified technology is developed, that will allow us to produce a car that fits with our position. Then why not? But the key is the technology: we will not just make a Ferrari that’s electric for the sake of it.

“If we bring in new technology, then we need to bring something new to the market. That’s how Ferrari has always worked with new technology. The evolution of new technology is 100% in the DNA of Ferrari.”

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Galliera added that the new SF90 Stradale plug-in hybrid has shown that Ferrari buyers are open to electrified technology, saying: “We have clients who love using EV mode early in the morning to leave the house silently, then can use the engine and hear the Ferrari sound on the road.”

Engine noise has long been a key part of Ferrari’s ‘emotional’ offering. When asked how the firm will deal with this for an EV, Galliera said: “That is a very interesting question. We are working hard on this, but I will not say if we have yet found the solution or not.

“But when the time comes for Ferrari to do, it will have an answer – and I promise you it will be an elegant answer.”

READ MORE

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SF90 Stradale hybrid is most powerful Ferrari road car yet

Pininfarina to launch range of luxury EVs before 2025

James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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si73 16 May 2020

I was hoping for a bit more

I was hoping for a bit more insight into their possible plans but there is nothing much here, basically Ferrari don't believe the tech is adequate for an ev Ferrari and as such won't build one until it is.
david RS 15 May 2020

The covid is at Ferrari ?  

The covid is at Ferrari ?

 

manicm 16 May 2020

david RS wrote:

david RS wrote:

The covid is at Ferrari ?

 

Or maybe your brain?

RednBlue 15 May 2020

:)

I see that readers in this website are all PhDs in engineering... :)

manicm 16 May 2020

RednBlue wrote:

RednBlue wrote:

I see that readers in this website are all PhDs in engineering... :)

Isn't it just so?

xxxx 16 May 2020

manicm wrote:

manicm wrote:

RednBlue wrote:

I see that readers in this website are all PhDs in engineering... :)

Isn't it just so?

You don't need a phd to offer a general opinion, but it's a shame so many people have their head in the sand. BEVs are here to stay

manicm 16 May 2020

xxxx wrote:

xxxx wrote:

manicm wrote:

RednBlue wrote:

I see that readers in this website are all PhDs in engineering... :)

Isn't it just so?

You don't need a phd to offer a general opinion, but it's a shame so many people have their head in the sand. BEVs are here to stay

Unless you're completely illiterate where did I suggest I'm against BEVs as you are against Ferrari? Just that the Taycan has a severely restricted range if you're going to use any of its potential performance.