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Find out about the Rolls Royce 102EX Phantom Experimental Vehicle, the Green Rolls Royce, introduced at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show.
It may seem that "Rolls Royce" and "green" would never go together, but faced with tightening CO2 limits in Europe the super luxury brand is looking to alternative vehicles to balance out their portfolio. However, while companies like Aston Martin and Morgan are using tiny cars, Rolls has chosen to shoehorn electric power into a Phantom.
The numbers:
290 kW (389 hp)
800 Nm (590 ft-lb.) torque
0-60 mph in under 8 seconds
125 mile range
What stands out about the Phantom isn't what it is, but what it is not: It is not a new showcase of green technology. It is not filled with lightweight materials and the body has not undergone numerous aerodynamic tweaks. Unless you look closely there are no distinguishing features that identify this car as being electric: The socket for wired charging is hidden behind what would normally be the gas cap cover and the paint is a rather sedate blue in stark contrast to other electric cars like Mercedes' fluorescent green SLS E-cell. The 102EX is every bit as boxy, big and luxurious as the car it is based on.
After removing the massive V12 engine and drivetrain from a regular production Phantom there was plenty of room to add electric motivation. Like the rest of the car, the system is over-the-top in size and performance. The twin electric motors at the back product 290 kilowatts of power, equivalent to three-and-a-half Nissan Leafs. It uses what is by far the largest electric car battery, weighing a whopping 1,400 lbs. and capable of storing 71 kWh of electricity, nearly three times as much as the Leaf.
Charging is done by a cable or through induction: Drivers would have a small pad installed in their garage the car would park over to charge. A fast charge mode can return the car to full charge in eight hours, although a twenty-hour cycle will help preserve battery life.
Cost of the car is estimated at £1 million, which is about $1.6 million dollars at current exchange rates. Rolls Royce has said a production model is possible if the concept garners enough interest.
Who would buy this car? It would be perfect for livery service and would be a hit with celebrities looking for a green way to reach the red carpet. Electric cars are also exempt from London's congestion charge, allowing this ridiculously large car to drive through the city for free.
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