Electric Rolls includes battery and gear innovations


An innovative elective Rolls Royce Phantom was unveiled at the Geneva motorshow.

The all-electric car is currently only a one-off prototype, but Rolls Royce stated that it would be taking the car around the world to gain the views of its customers.

Amongst other innovations, the car is powered by the world's largest car battery system produced by UK-based manufacturer Axeon.  The battery pack has a capacity of 71kWh capable of producing 850A (350Kw) to boost the super-luxury vehicle from 0-60 mph (96.5 kph) in under eight seconds.

Xtrac electric transmission system

The Xtrac transmission with electric motors Image: Xtrac

Using 96 lithium ion pouch cells, combining Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Oxide, the battery does not need to be plugged in to be recharged.  Instead it uses a wireless induction charging system involving a panel fixed under the car connecting remotely to a panel on the floor of the car's parking space.  With a range of 200km, the car can also use standard plug-in technology if required.

The Phantom 102EX also includes a unique transmission system specially designed by UK gear specialists Xtrac.  The prototype combines the output from the vehicles two electric motors, mounted on each side of the transmission, to drive a rear differential through constant 6:1 ratio mesh gears.  The main challenges, according to Xtrac, were to produce a system that was both compact
and lightweight.