Above, the Rolls Royce EX102 (click on the image to enlarge).
The German (BMW) owned Rolls Royce car maker in Goodwood, Sussex have proudly launched an electric powered version of their Phantom limousine. Although said to be a one off, motoring journalists are speculating whether or not it will ever be put into [limited] production.
The British Gazette would respectfully suggest that Rolls Royce may well decide against such a decision. Why?
Because of information published in today’s Daily Mail. On page 84, Ray Massey, the Daily Mail’s Motoring editor (who incidentally doubles as a gardening correspondent) has written an article about the car.
Mr Massey cites the electric car’s amazing quietness and smoothness – that is according to him even greater than the V12 engine production car. However he also cites certain disadvantages:
Apart from a maximum range of 125 miles – which effectively means a radius of 60 miles there and 60 miles back – there appears to be some problems associated with the technology. We quote from the Daily Mail:
“At the pre-drive briefing you are warned off all the bits not to touch and about the mega-voltage shock you risk if you do.”
Doubtless the term “mega-voltage shock” is journalistic hyperbolae on Mr Massey’s part, but clearly there some high voltage sections of the car – which will obviously be clearly labelled! The British Gazette however would suggest – and the suggestion is made in a supportive spirit of a manufacturer employing British workers – that Rolls Royce do not take the risk of someone getting electrocuted. That is not to say that we think that Rolls Royce will have been in any way derelict or incompetent. We most certainly DO NOT. These cars are some of the most rigorously engineered artefacts ever made. Nor do we think that the customers for such a vehicle will do their own servicing – it will clearly be serviced at a main agent.
Not withstanding this however, main agents employ motor mechanics and our own experience with motor mechanics is that if they don’t know something they don’t always ask and will sometimes blindly go ahead. Clearly there is a potential here for disaster.
The British Gazette considers it better not to take the risk. It would be a tragedy if this silly obsession with reducing CO2 emissions leads to a death of a young person.
This is a pocket straining car which will result in higher bills than your day to day Phantom. On the flip side of this matter, it has wonderful control thus making it a wonderful (albeit extremely expensive) car.