Electric Rolls Royce Phantom: 102EX at Salon Privé 2011

Salon Prive 2011 - Rolls Royce old and new

The Geneva Motor Show 2011 saw Rolls Royce take the wraps off the biggest electric car, with the biggest bank of batteries, we’ve seen so far – the Rolls Royce Phantom EV. But it’s only a concept.

In theory, electric power for the Rolls Royce Flagship could be a very sane option. The instant torque an electric motor can deliver, coupled with its silent running, should in theory suit the RR down to the ground.

The problem however is going to be range. And power. And the perception of customers. For even with enough batteries to power the Space Shuttle the RR EV can only manage 60mph in 8 seconds and 100 miles. And that’s after anything up to a 20 hour charge.

But Rolls Royce are assuming that at some point they can find a way to make an electric Rolls Royce a practical possibility (in truth that will probably only come from a hydrogen fuel cell) so the next stage is to see what their customers think of the idea.

To that end they are spending the next year taking the Phantom EV round suitable venues to get feedback, and one of the best places to do that is Salon Privé.

So along with the celebration of 100 years of the Spirit of Ecstasy, Rolls Royce will have the Phantom EV at Salon Privé for all to see and judge.

The Rolls Royce stand will also include the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe and the Rolls-Royce Ghost, and there will be a dedicated Rolls Royce category in the Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance which already includes a 1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, a 1923 Rolls-Royce Tourer and a 1927 Phantom I Udaipur Hunting Car.

A Rolls Royce Cornucopia.

By Cars UK