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Exterior Design
102EX bears the famous hallmarks of the
Rolls-Royce Phantom on which it is based, such as hand craftsmanship, fine
detailing and iconic design cues like the pantheon grille and the Spirit of
Ecstasy which celebrates its centenary in 2011. However, at the core of its
design is the essence of an experimental vehicle, establishing this car's status
as a test bed, while subtly alluding to its electric power plant.
The design
creates a different aesthetic, experimenting with interior space and materials,
as well as trims and illumination. These are framed around functional
considerations for a battery electric Rolls-Royce - how the car is likely to be
used and the changes that the technology brings in terms of interior space and
exterior detailing. Naturally, these changes are executed in a way that affirms
the car's credentials as a Rolls-Royce.
Interior Design
Atlantic chrome-finished dashboard dials echo the exterior color, providing a
sense of interior-exterior balance and their analogue displays maintain the
timeless architecture that every Phantom interior commands.
Other changes hint at
further evolutionary designs applied to the car. For example, some dials have
been subtly modified to provide information needed by the driver of an electric
vehicle. The fuel gauge in particular has been replaced by an elegant battery
charge indicator.
One of the most pleasing features of every Rolls-Royce
Phantom interior is the power reserve dial located beside the speedometer. This
reveals how much of the V12 engine's power remains at a driver's disposal.
Phantom EE takes this concept a step further.
It features a regeneration
symbol which takes the dial beyond the normal 100% line of standard Phantom.
Depending on the momentum gathered, it conveys the degree of re-charge taking
place as the vehicle is in motion.
Interior wood veneers present Phantom
owners with unique grains, patterns and detail adding weight to the fact that
every model leaving Goodwood is as unique as the finger print of its owner.
Phantom EE takes this concept a step further.
Its leather interior is
derived from a natural vegetable tanning process christened Corinova. This gives
life to the car, adding definition to the seats, floor and arm rests.
The Drivetrain
The latest in this line of experimental projects began
with a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a strikingly modern and immaculately proportioned
car in which high technology and hand-craftsmanship combine to produce something
extraordinary.
Phantom EE
features the car's ground-breaking aluminum
spaceframe, so important to dynamic prowess, as well as the sense of calm and
tranquillity enjoyed by occupants. However, the naturally aspirated 6.75-liter
V12 petrol engine and 6-speed gearbox have been replaced by a lithium ion
battery pack and two electric motors mounted on the rear sub-frame. These motors
are connected to a single speed transmission with integrated differential.
Each motor is power rated to 194 hp, giving Phantom EE a maximum power
output of 389 hp and torque of 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) available over a wide band.
This compares with 453 hp for standard Phantom with maximum torque of 531 lb-ft
(720 Nm), delivered at 3,500 rpm.
The Nickel Cobalt Manganese battery
chemistry holds around 230Wh/kg, a high energy density which is important in
achieving an acceptable range between re-charges. Pre-launch tests suggests
Phantom EE should run to a range of up to 124 miles (200 km). Delivered on an
effortless wave of torque, 0-60 mph will be achieved in under eight seconds (5.7
seconds in standard Phantom), with top speed limited to 100 mph (160 km/h).
This is the first application of the technology in a GKL++ segment (super
luxury vehicles priced at more than $300,000) and the battery pack is thought to
be the largest ever fitted to a road car.
Battery Re-Charging
Re-charging is undertaken with a plug and five-pin socket which takes the place
of the normal fuel filling mechanism for Phantom. The standard fuel filler cap
has been replaced by a design featuring a clear window, displaying the RR logo
and 102EX motif. The window frames rear-mounted, tricolor LEDs which present the
car's charging status.
On start up, the socket is bathed in blue light.
This begins to flash as charging commences. When completely charged, the display
turns green, then flashing green as the solenoid is disengaged. A potential
fault in the system is indicated by either constant or flashing red light.
Charging can be halted via a switch located adjacent to the plug. The
process can also be operated inside the vehicle using controls accessed beneath
the center console, for example when induction charging is taking place.
Battery Pack
Phantom EE is thought to have the largest passenger
car battery in the world. Peak current is 850A, delivered at 338V DC. Overall
capacity is 71kWh.
The pack is comprised of large-format NCM pouch cells.
NCM (Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Oxide) is a variant of lithium-ion
chemistry that has particularly high energy and power densities.
The
Phantom EE battery pack houses five modules of cells, a 38-cell module, a
36-cell module, and three smaller ones of ten, eight and four arranged in
various orientations within an irregular shaped unit. This resembles the overall
shape of the original engine and gearbox.
Each of the 96 cells was
individually tested before assembly into modules to determine their
characteristics and capacity. Sub-assemblies were further tested under load to
verify that the power connections between each cell perform to specification.
The electronic sensing units for each group of cells were tested and
calibrated prior to assembly and put through a rigorous temperature cycling
regime designed to provoke failure of weak components. The main electronic box,
which contains the switching and control gear, was tested in isolation from the
other components to verify correct operation.
Three separate charger
units (3kW each) are fitted to the battery, which allow both single-phase (20
hours) or three-phase charging (8 hours); for a passenger car this is unique. A
fourth induction charger is also fitted to enable wireless charging, a
technology being trialed in Phantom EE.
The battery pack would be
expected to last over three years were it to be used every day. Part of the
program however will be to test this assumption in a real world environment and
deliver a more robust answer to the question of battery lifespan.
Induction Charging
Concerns about lack of available re-charging
infrastructure in towns and cities are well documented and critics of electric
motoring point to the additional inconvenience of trailing cables connected
between power source and vehicles.
To present Rolls-Royce owners with a
vision of a potential solution to these problems, Phantom EE is testing a
technology called induction charging. This allows re-charging to take place
without any physical connection, delivering greater convenience for owners and
hinting at the potential for a network of remote charging facilities.
There are two main elements to induction charging; a transfer pad on the ground
that delivers power from a mains source and an induction pad mounted under the
car, beneath Phantom EE's battery pack. Power frequencies are magnetically
coupled across these power transfer pads.
The system is around 90 percent
efficient when measured from mains supply to battery and it is tolerant to
parking misalignment. For example, it is not essential to align the transmitter
and Phantom receiver pads exactly for charging to take place. While pads are
capable of transmitting power over gaps of up to 400mm, for Phantom EE the
separation is in the region of 150mm.
Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom Experimental Electric Concept: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications