Although the electrification of the automobile is inevitable, building a long-range electric car that the average person can afford is a challenge that probably won’t be met for several years. But building an electric version of a car that already costs $350,000 might not be so hard.
Rolls-Royce is reportedly considering offering an electric version of its Phantom ultra-luxury car, a company executive told AutoWeek Netherlands. There are numerous reasons for this, including the aforementioned price advantage. More specifically, a few thousand dollars of batteries would hardly be a noticeable addition to the $350,000 price tag, and that’s before you take into account the deletion of the very expensive hand-built V12. At the end of the day, electrifying a Phantom might actually make it cheaper.
Oh, and there’s another problem electric cars often face that won’t even come into the Rolls-Royce equation — weight. The Roller’s massive V12 and heavy-duty transmission weigh so much already that they could probably be replaced by a few hundred pounds of lithium-ion batteries and a lightweight electric motor without adding much to the overall mass.
Lastly, the there’s the issue of range. Cars like the Phantom are almost always used to chauffeur VIPs around town. With long-range driving usually out of the question, the final pitfall of electric cars — their range — is not a concern here. That said, we see no reason why a Phantom couldn’t fit at least as many batteries as a Tesla Model S, so a 300 mile range should be achievable. Yes, the Phantom is heavier than the Model S, but it’s also a lot bigger and therefore has more space for batteries.
The torquey nature of an electric motor also fits with the Rolls-Royce experience, and silent operation jibes well with ultra-luxury motoring.
So when might an electric Roller hit the market? We’d bet it’s still a few years off. Better start saving!
09/23, 3:50 PM
posted by:
05Z88Path
I must admit…this actually makes some sense. Also the electrification of the automobile already happened. What we are experiencing now is a RE-electrification of the automobile. At one point there were more electric cars then IE powered vehicles!
09/23, 3:52 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Finally Donald Trump and all those oil sheiks can go ‘green’
09/23, 4:01 PM
posted by:
eff1Fifty
Smart, now that they put it that way
ILL TAKE TWO
09/23, 4:03 PM
posted by:
A4
Well written article.
09/23, 4:21 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
I just can’t see the appeal of a handbuilt luxury car that sounds like a golfcart going down the road.
09/23, 4:24 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Commenting on this Rolls-Royce gives me something to do while I’m waiting for my microwaved bowl of Chef Boyardee Mini-bites to cool down a bit. I suppose if I ate enough cans of this stuff I could power a Rolls for 300 miles. However there definitely would be emissions.
09/23, 4:31 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
especially if you are eating the cheese variety….
09/23, 4:50 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
This makes sense, yet it makes the older buyers go “WTF?”
Electric – Don’t look at the green factor, but instead look at the quiet ride factor. Some extreme luxury buyers will definitely dig this.
Gas – For those who must have the noise and the rapid refill.
09/23, 5:31 PM
posted by:
zeegone
Great idea, a Rolls-Royce is a quiet car anyway and doesn’t need to sound fast. Most owners have chaffeurs anyway. If this was a Bentley that be different. You’re driven in a Rolls and you drive a Bentley. An electric Rolls makes sense.
09/23, 5:45 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
I’d like to see them do this is short order, even if as an experimental vehicle. Just to show they have more than a passing interest.
09/23, 6:28 PM
posted by:
nickkop
well written, i second that…. i would probably never buy a rolls.
if i could afford to, id rather have:
a couple of landcruisers, worked audi’s/bmw’s/hondas/acuras/nissans/ToyotaSupra/Lexi/Z06/F250/
crotch-rockets/four-wheelers/dirt bikes…. and donate some money to charities…
09/23, 9:17 PM
posted by:
Rafa LL
You say it now, as an Average LLN commenter.
Well written article, finally.
09/24, 2:00 AM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
hey johnny, in 2006 there was a UN report that stated all the cars, trucks, and suvs on the planet put together don’t produce as much greenhouse gases as the global meat industry…so fire up that mustang, but put that canned crap away and switch to ramen
09/24, 11:49 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I hear ya leftwing. I think dogs get better stuff in their cans than we do.
09/24, 2:05 PM
posted by:
CHEF95
not bad but a roller in the same class a G-Wiz! not good