Ferrari EV to pioneer new technology

Development of EV dependent on technical developments in electric vehicle space; plans will not be accelerated due to new rivals.

Published On May 18, 2020 08:00:00 AM

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Ferrari SF90 Stradale

Ferrari commercial boss Enrico Galliera rules out EVs from brand for at least five years
Battery technology not advanced enough to meet needs of a supercar, according to Galliera
EV to utilise new technology to deliver on brand’s heritage

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 2-seater with a motor mounted on 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 our sister publication Autocar UK.

“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.”

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 percent in the DNA of Ferrari.”

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.”