Rolls-Royce isn’t exactly known for its green image, but the luxury car maker is looking to change that image with the reveal of the world’s first ultra-luxury electric vehicle.
Dubbed the 102EX, Rolls-Royce will use the all-electric Phantom as a test bed for future drivetrains, but says the 102EX itself is not currently production bound. But that does not mean Rolls-Royce is not considering the development of an electric model with production intent. Instead, Rolls-Royce says it will begin a worldwide tour with prototypes of the car to allow current owners to test the vehicle and to gauge interest.
Rolls-Royce plans to begin testing of the all-electric Phantom this year.
“With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future,” said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös.
The 102EX, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), will begin its testing tour in Europe, but will also make stops in the Middle East, Asia and North America. During the tour, Rolls-Royce will allow current owners to test drive the prototype in a bid to gauge possible interest.
Being as the 102Ex is an electric car, the signature 6.75-liter V12 gas engine will not be found under the hood, instead, a lithium-ion battery pack and two electric motors have been mounted on the rear sub-frame. Also gone is the six-speed automatic transmission, replaced instead with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Output for each of the two electric motors is 195 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, for a grand total of 390 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Although horsepower falls short of the traditional Phantom, the 102EX actually picks up a 60 lb-ft of torque advantage and overall acceleration drops from 5.7 seconds to just under eight seconds to 60 miles per hour from a dead stop. Top speed is limited to 99 miles per hour.
Other key features of the 102EX include Nickel Cobalt Manganese battery chemistry holds around 230 Wh/kg, enough to allow for a maximum range of 125 miles, a relatively impressive feat given the vehicle’s size and weight. Rolls-Royce attributes that to what it says is the largest battery of its type ever installed in a production-style vehicle.
