Rumormill: Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom cometh?
2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom - Click above for high-res image gallery
Yes, an electric Rolls-Royce. And why not? The torque curve of an electric motor – making maximum pulling power right at zero RPM – would seem to suit the RR mission perfectly, as would the distinct lack of noise, vibration and harshness. Sounds like a match made in heaven, no?
Well, of course there are issues to overcome, not the least of which is sourcing a suitably large battery for the three-ton Phantom sedan. According to Auto Express in the U.K., that battery pack would feature lithium ion cells, which happens to be the same technology used by parent company BMW in its electric Mini E.
These rumors aren't exactly new – we last heard of an electric Roller about a year ago – but this time the addition of a possible range extender is mentioned for the first time. Such a configuration is featured in both the upcoming Chevy Volt and the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept BMW just showed off at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The unnamed spokesperson cited by Auto Express doesn't offer any sort of timetable as to when we might see an electric Phantom, but we're not exactly holding our breath.
Gallery: 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom
[Source: Auto Express]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
paulwesterberg 8:40PM (9/22/2009)
For something so heavy and brick-shaped you would probably need at v6 or turbo 4cyl as the range extender which would pretty much negate the advantages of a hybrid power train.
On the upside battery cost is not an issue as RR owners are not concerned about costs.
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gorr 9:57PM (9/22/2009)
A pure battery only car as any battery only car is useless and costly and limp and dangerous on any road except maybe in a parking lot but even there this can cause major hassles. This car if they opt for a battery plus an electric generator can be served by a 200 cc single cylinder gasoline engine, that way it cost less to drive, the cost for building the car are lower then a battery only configuration, the battery will last longer, etc, etc. It's been years, i say the same thing over and over and not a single car on the world have this set-up, this prove that all actual car manufacturers are just limp products resellers. And the wannabee car builders that converted 2000 or 10 000 old clunkers to drive electric have not yet tried this set-up, even if it cost 200$ to 2 000$ approx.
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jeff 10:40AM (9/23/2009)
Gorr... the 750lbs McGill Formula Hybrid racecar that's been featured on this site a couple times uses a 211cc 7hp engine for its generator, and even that is not enough for charge sustaining duty. Even with the engine running full tilt all the time, the battery is still drained faster than the generator recharges it, and this is a MUCH smaller car than a Phantom. While the Volt's range extender is no-doubt oversized, that same 1.4L engine would probably be a little strained by this 5000lbs+ beast, it would probably have to be running full blast all the time to keep the batteries charged during sprightly driving. And a tiny engine running full tilt is not the kind of sound a Phantom owner wants to hear.
I think they should use a gas turbine range extender! They could use the same ones as the series hybrid buses in Newcastle! I'm thinking 25kWh pack for a 100 mile EV range around town, 150kW turbine when cruising out to the country side estate. The thing would have to come with an elegant, RR designed charging station, cause I can't really imagine dragging out a regular charge lead to plug into something like this.
gorr 2:51PM (9/23/2009)
The car from mcgill don't work good because they didn't put it right and the electronics components already builded and selled, like engine monitoring controls are hacked by the chips and programms maker to work against you, that's why the mcgill technicians didn't succeeded in building a small green car and didn't succeeded in selling it for a profit. All tv's, computers, radios, car engine managements, internet connections, cable providers, internet sites are hack by microsoft, c.i.a, and high financial circles from the beginning. They intended and maybe still intend to flush any and each energy in you. If you make 5$ for real with a new business or a new business partners, then even with their trillions and regulations, they will become sick in the stomach, i writed many time that the green car is easy to build and don't pollute and cost less and drive good for 20-30 years. All car makers and goverment peoples are zombies only, they rejected anyones long time ago. They fear like hell a bum in the streets finding a good job or starting a small business. Long time ago most peoples had fun but they were shot and kill by the actual american high-financial peoples that tried and still try to erase biology and everyone believing in biology because they wanted to have fun with sexual feelings but without understanding that it take at least 2 people to have sex, they were working in gang stimulations. Limp biology and (robots) peoples cannot construct, conceive, and sell a green car ??? It take a fuelcell and 600 pounds of metal and plastics and it cost as low as 7000$ at wallmart or at ford dealership.
Mark Kiernan 5:57AM (9/23/2009)
A 200kwh battery ;)
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Laurens 6:10AM (9/23/2009)
It makes perfectly sense. Cars like these are transported around the world by aeroplane. She only has to move the last mile to the catwalks. You can even accomplish that using drive by wire ;-)
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jim 8:08AM (9/23/2009)
Perhaps it should be a hybrid. Given that we're discussing the automotive equivalent of an aircraft carrier, then I'd suggest a compact nuclear reactor to generate the electricity. When parked it could be plugged in and pump juice into the power grid.
Electrically propelled luxury cars really do make sense, the huge torque and near silent operation.
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Mark Kiernan 8:54AM (9/23/2009)
Also consider that profit margin, they don't care if the drive train costs a fortune they will still charge the price of a large house for such a car.
andrichrose 10:31AM (9/23/2009)
Most of these prestige cars only cover 5K miles per year and
generally are only seen in the city where being seen by plenty
of people contributes greatly towards the swollen heads of
their occupants , so the range issue should not be much of a
problem !
Serge 10:25AM (9/23/2009)
Load it up with a quick-charge capable floor-mounted 100 kWh pack (only another ton) and this thing will [silently] outrun a Bentley and have over 300 miles of range. No range extender necessary, as I doubt owners take these for extended drives (they have private planes for that).
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