Rolls-Royce reflects on electrification journey ahead of 'historic announcement'

MANILA: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is set to make what it calls a  'historic announcement' tomorrow, September 29, regarding the next chapter of the brand’s “extraordinary story.”

In relation to this, the company reflected on its heritage of electric power in automobiles. To date, Rolls-Royce has proclaimed its electrification strategy in three simple statements:

• The marque will introduce an all-electric car this decade (2020 to 2030).
• This car will be a pure BEV, not a hybrid of any kind.
• It will be launched only when the time is right, and every element meets Rolls-Royce’s technical, aesthetic, and performance standards.

In the early 1900s, some engineers and manufacturers already considered using electricity as the default means of propulsion for motor cars. Unfortunately, there was a very limited range for electricity and an absence of charging infrastructure during that time.

Engineers were drawn to electric power due to its silent operation, instant torque, remarkable operation, and absence of exhaust fumes. The natural suitability of electric power underpins Rolls-Royce’s commitment to produce an all-electric model this decade.

“In April 1900, our founding forefather, Charles Rolls, made a prescient prophecy about automotive electrification. Move forward over 120 years to when I made a public promise, on the record, that we would bring the first fully electric Rolls-Royce to market within the current decade, and right now, our company is embarking on an historic undertaking to create the first, super luxury car of its type. This will happen, sooner than many thought possible, through the incredible skills, expertise, vision and dedication of our engineers, designers and specialists at the Home of Rolls-Royce,” Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Executive Officer Torsten Muller-Otvos said in a statement.

Rolls-Royce Founder Henry Royce was one of the world’s first electrical engineers. In 1902, his enterprise FH Royce & Co. supplied electric motors for Pritchett & Gold, a London-based battery-maker that had expanded into producing electric cars.

His co-founder, Charles Rolls, was also a highly skillful engineer. In an interview published in The Motor-Car Journal in 1900, he stated, “The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration, and they should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged. But for now, I do not anticipate that they will be very serviceable — at least for many years to come.”

Today, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars continues to be an electrification pioneer. In 2011, the company launched Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), codenamed 102EX, a fully operational and road-legal battery-electric vehicle.

Phantom EE was never intended for production, instead, it serves as a working test-bed for clients and VIPs to experience electric propulsion and share their thoughts and considerations with Rolls-Royce engineers.

The vehicle is equipped with a lithium-ion battery pack and two electric motors connected to a single-speed transmission with integrated differential. The system generates a maximum power output of 290kW and a maximum torque of 800Nm.

In 2016, Rolls-Royce unveiled the Vision Next 100, codenamed 103EX. It is a drastically innovative concept car that was positioned to define the brand’s long-term vision of luxury mobility.

The car features a coachbuilt bodywork that will allow clients to commission a car that echoes their personal vision. It also comes with a virtual assistant and chauffeur powered by artificial intelligence. The cabin creates a “Grand Sanctuary” that is made from rare and exclusive materials. With a length of 5.9 m and a height of 1.6 m, the vehicle ensures a grand entrance every time it arrives to its destination.

The car is built on an advanced lightweight platform and powered by an exclusive, all-electric drive train.

The EX-suffix denotes that the 103EX was never intended for production. After its grand debut in London, the car embarked on a three-year world tour, returning to the Home of Rolls-Royce in 2019.

“In this groundbreaking endeavor, we are drawing on a remarkable heritage, unique in our industry. Our founders and those who worked alongside them in the marque's formative years were all important pioneers of electric power, as well as their era's leading experts in automotive engineering. As we herald a new electric future at Rolls-Royce, I am proud and humbled to share their inspiring stories, which have never been told in one place before, and shine a fresh and fascinating light on our company's earliest days,” Muller-Otvos added.

The announcement will be made at rolls-roycemotorcars.com tomorrow at 8 p.m.

Photos from Rolls-Royce

Also read: Rolls-Royce celebrates co-founder's birthday with London pilgrimage