---
title: "Bentley’s First Electric Vehicle Might Use the Porsche Taycan Platform"
description: "In an effort to reduce its rather sizable carbon footprint, Bentley is said to be finally moving towards developing its own electric vehicle."
date: "2018-10-30"
modified: "2018-10-30"
authors:
  - name: "Eric Brandt"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/eric-brandt.md"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/24573/bentleys-first-electric-vehicle-might-use-the-porsche-taycan-platform"
categories:
  - "Bentley News"
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Porsche News"
tags:
  - "bentley"
  - "Electric"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "EV"
  - "luxury"
  - "plug-in"
  - "Rumor"
---

# Bentley’s First Electric Vehicle Might Use the Porsche Taycan Platform

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/04/bentley-speed-six-e-concept.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

In an effort to reduce its rather sizable carbon footprint, Bentley is said to be finally moving towards developing its own electric vehicle. A new report from *[Automotive News](<https://www.autonews.com/article/20181030/COPY01/310309919/bentley-mulls-electric-car-to-help-reduce-carbon-footprint>)* suggests the high-end luxury brand could build an EV on parent company Volkswagen's “Premium Platform Electric” architecture—the same one that will underpin the [Porsche Taycan](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/21413/the-mission-e-has-a-real-name-meet-the-porsche-taycan.md>) and potentially the Audi [Sport E-tron GT concept](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/23701/audi-sport-e-tron-gt-concept-to-share-platform-with-porsche-taycan-debut-at-2018-la-auto-show.md>). No word on whether it would look anything like Bentley's all-electric [EXP 12 Speed 6e](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/8174/bentley-exp-12-speed-6e-like-that-other-sexy-bentley-concept-but-electric-and-convertible.md>) concept, but hopefully it will at least have a less-weird name.

Since Bentley is a pretty low-volume brand, it might not come to mind as a big polluter. However, its lineup is all big, heavy sedans and coupes with big engines, not to mention the new Bentayga SUV. None of those are very thrifty with fuel. A [plug-in hybrid variant of the Bentayga](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/18987/bentley-gets-electrified-with-the-new-bentayga-hybrid.md>) will become available in select markets starting next year, but that still doesn't make Bentley the greenest auto manufacturer.

More and more governments around the world are mulling the idea of EV and hybrid mandates for manufacturers, and Bentley needs to stay competitive in that future. If a Bentley EV does end up happening, it’s expected to hit the market by 2025, Bentley CEO [Adrian Hallmark](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/23039/new-bentley-ceo-isnt-interested-in-building-sports-cars.md>) told [*Reuters*](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-bentley-exclusive/exclusive-bentley-warns-worst-case-no-deal-brexit-would-hit-profitability-investment-idUSKCN1N40SK>).

Sharing the Porsche/Audi platform that’s expected to launch in 2021 would be an easy way to cut costs in EV development for Bentley. The trick would be making the Bentley EV different enough from the Taycan and whatever production car Audi comes up with to make the Bentley stand out—and make it worth what will undoubtedly be a much higher price.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/brandt004>)

## More

- [Batteries Aren’t for Bentleys. At Least Not Yet, Says Brand Boss](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25332/batteries-arent-for-bentleys-at-least-not-yet-says-brand-boss.md>)
- [All Bentley Cars and SUVs Will Be Hybrid by 2023, Electric Model to Arrive by 2025](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/28601/all-bentley-cars-and-suvs-will-be-hybrid-by-2023-electric-model-to-arrive-by-2025.md>)
- [Bentley U.S. Boss: ‘Haven’t Had a Customer’ Say They Need a Self-Driving Bentley](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/16650/bentley-u-s-boss-havent-had-a-customer-say-they-want-a-self-driving-bentley.md>)
- [Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e: Like That Other Sexy Bentley Concept, But Electric and Convertible](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/8174/bentley-exp-12-speed-6e-like-that-other-sexy-bentley-concept-but-electric-and-convertible.md>)
- [Bentley Gets Electrified With the New Bentayga Hybrid](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/18987/bentley-gets-electrified-with-the-new-bentayga-hybrid.md>)
- [Bentley’s First EV Will Arrive in 2025](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/44032/bentleys-first-ev-will-arrive-in-2025.md>)
- [Bentley Is Developing High-Performance Electric Motors That Use No Rare-Earth Magnets](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/35462/bentley-is-developing-high-performance-electric-motors-that-use-no-rare-earth-magnets.md>)
- [The Bentley Starck Power Dock Is a Posh Charging Station for Fancy Hybrids](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/19173/the-bentley-starck-power-dock-is-a-posh-charging-station-for-fancy-hybrids.md>)