Rolls-Royce unveils electric Phantom 102EX

Whether we like it or not, electric cars are here to stay – a fact made rather clear by a lot of the mainstream auto manufacturers turning their attention to this alternate propulsion technology in a bid to do their bit for the environment and reducing mankind’s reliance on rapidly reducing natural resources such as petroleum. And while electric cars, be it as concept or production, have been around in the form of small, utilitarian runabouts to sporty two seat roadsters, no one has really done a full-fledged luxury car powered purely by electrons in motion – until now that is. Taking the first step in the direction of making super-luxurious electric cars has been none other than the most renowned name in the business, Rolls-Royce.

Unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Rolls-Royce 102EX, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), represents one of the most significant initiatives taken by the company in recent years. But as the name indicates, the Phantom EE isn’t a concept car, but a fully functioning experimental vehicle to carefully test the opinions and reactions to alternative drive-train options of a range of stakeholders including owners, enthusiasts, members of the public and the media. This working test bed though is not slated for production, but seeks to explore established BEV technologies and pose and answer some serious questions about the viability of such a vehicle. Can the Phantom EE deliver an acceptable range for customers without frequent re-charging? Is there confidence in its ability to operate in extreme conditions? Will reliability and quality be consistent with expectations of one of the world’s most aspirational automotive brands? But more importantly, the question the Phantom EE is really designed to address is whether an all-electric drive-train is able to deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience for customers.

Power and drivetrain

But even in experimental form, the Phantom EE is a rather extraordinary vehicle. The entire underlying structure of the his Roller is a ground-breaking aluminium spaceframe, which not only give it great handling prowess, but also isolates the passengers from the noise and stresses of the world outside. Then, in place of the 6.75 litre V12 petrol engine and 6-speed gearbox from the regular Phantom, the EE features, what Rolls-Royce believes is the largest battery pack fitted to any passenger car, which comprises of 96 large format Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Oxide (NCM) cells having a total capacity of 71kWh. The battery pack houses five modules of cells, a 38-cell module, a 36-cell module, and three smaller ones of ten, eight and four arranged in various orientations within an irregular shaped unit. This resembles the overall shape of the original engine and gearbox.

While the car does feature the standard socket for charging its batteries by plugging it into the grid, it also brings in a new feature called Induction Charging. This system allows re-charging to take place without any physical connection, delivering greater convenience for owners and hinting at the potential for a network of remote charging facilities.

This battery pack feeds a pair of motors rated at 145kW each, giving the Phantom EE a maximum power output of 290kW (395PS) and torque of 800Nm available over a wide band.  This compares with 338kW (460PS) for standard the Phantom with maximum torque of 720Nm, delivered at 3,500rpm. The tests so far suggest that the Phantom EE should be able to travel 200km before it needs a recharge and will accelerate from zero to 100km/h in under eight seconds with top speed limited to 160km/h.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Design:

While making this experimental electric test bed, Rolls-Royce hasn’t compromised on any of the styling cues unique to its brand of cars. The Phantom EE bears the famous hallmarks of the Rolls-Royce Phantom on which it is based, such as hand craftsmanship, fine detailing and iconic design cues like the pantheon grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy. But to differentiate it from your run-off-the-mill Phantom (if you can even call it that), the company has made use of a highly reflective paint, christened Atlantic Chrome, using ceramic nano particles that really makes it worthy of attention of everywhere it may go. Another rather interesting feature on the outside is the glowing Spirit of Ecstasy which is bathed in blue LED light.

The insides of the car are typical Rolls-Royce as well and are swathed in Corinova leather and wood veneers to give it a rich feel. As for the dashboard, the Phantom EE maintains most of its analogue instruments but adds a few new tricks such as the power reserve guage which features a regeneration symbol which takes the dial beyond the normal 100% line of standard Phantom. Depending on the momentum gathered, it conveys the degree of re-charge taking place as the vehicle is in motion. A new centre console has also been designed, lit by LEDs, to control charging and display information about the current charge status of the car.

Rolls-Royce’s ideas seem solid and it makes one wonder why no one has attempted something like this before. Well, there still are severe limitations to electric drivetrain technology, such as range and long charge times, which really hamper its applications in the ultra luxury segment. But when those issues are sorted out, and it looks like Rolls-Royce is on the right track for doing so, electric drive would probably the best way to power large luxo-barges, especially considering the smooth power delivery of the system and sheer absence of any NVH levels. Cheers to truly wafting in the lap of luxury in the near future then.