Bentley Motors, part of the Volkswagen carmaker, has maintained conservative values ​​until now, recalling its 100-year history of creating luxury cars with internal combustion engines at the slightest opportunity. As Reuters and Electrek note, the global trend towards the electrification of vehicles has prompted Bentley to make an important mission statement.

The company wishes to devote the second century of its history to environmentally friendly transport. If anything, by the end of the next decade, the Crewe facility in the northwest of the UK should be carbon neutral in its day to day operations. Next year, two plug-in hybrids will be presented, and by 2026, the range of models of the brand will not have cars with only internal combustion engines – they will either be replaced by electric vehicles, or they will combine a classic internal combustion engine with electric motors in a hybrid scheme.

In 2030, Bentley will fully switch to the production of electric vehicles. The main intrigue is that while the manufacturer does not disclose the timing of the appearance of the first “purebred” electric car of the brand, but by indirect indications, it can be judged that Bentley is working on its creation. At least last year, the EXP 100 GT concept was unveiled. Four electric motors would allow it to accelerate to 100 km / h in two and a half seconds, and the top speed would be limited to 300 km / h. The range of 700 km could be replenished by 80% in 15 minutes, while the total mass of the electric vehicle would not exceed 1900 kg. The year 2035 was mentioned as an approximate date for the announcement of such an electric car, but today’s statements by Bentley suggest that by 2026 there will be at least one electric car in the range of models of the brand.