Rolls Royce Electric On The Way?

An electric Rolls Royce? Sounds a bit out of ordinary, right? Some may even say, science-fiction….but apparently, sources cited by Auto Express offer some insight on BMW’s plans to build an electric version of the ultra-luxurious Rolls-Royce brand.

The electric variant considered is based on the flagship model Phantom and the extra weight added by the lithium-ion battery pack is less of a concern for the automaker since the Phantom already weighs around 2,680 kg(5,800 lbs). The battery happens to be the same technology used in the electric Mini E.

While the idea of an electric Rolls Royce sounds intriguing, there are several shortcomings to this solution, the biggest one being the driving range between charges. As Auto Express points out as well, a hybrid version may be more suitable, similar to the technology found in the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept.

Rumors of a Rolls Royce electric vehicle go back as 2008, but despite the plausible news, we’re still not sold on the idea nor holding our breath. To top it off, the recharging infrastructure needed for electric powered vehicles is still in early development phases.

[Source: Auto Express ]

2 Responses to “Rolls Royce Electric On The Way?”

X5SoB says:

September 25, 2009 at 11:44 am

The VED technology in the Phantom makes total sense, but with a 3.0 6 cylinder turbodiesel, of course. This make the perfect testbed for the hybrid unit,and helps to iron out any kinks in the system. This would also help formalize the manufacture process and lower the cost somewhat. Not to mention it would confer some “green” status to Rolls Royce and their owners, not something they’re known for. Then, bring on the M1!

Rumor: Rolls-Royce working on Ghost hybrid model says:

November 8, 2009 at 6:23 am

[...] Rolls-Royce appeared back in September when several car publications published some rumors around a Rolls Royce hybrid. Initially it was being said that the Phantom model is the candidate for the new hybrid, but today, [...]