All-Electric Rolls-Royce Limousine Makes Debut in Geneva

By San Francisco Limousine Specialist on March 11, 2011

Rolls-Royce’s much-anticipated all-electric, battery-powered Phantom EX102 was rolled out for curious onlookers and luxury limo aficionados at the Geneva Motor Show recently, and it created quite a stir. Rolls-Royce says the vehicle costs a few pennies per mile to operate and has zero emissions, a marked change from other limos made by the legendary luxury automaker. Rolls says the new Phantom can be charged via electrical outlet or wirelessly by driving over a unique electric pad that can be installed in owners’ garages.

The new Phantom boasts the world’s largest battery that, when fully charged, has a maximum range of 125 miles. Rolls says that, if properly maintained, the 96 lithium-ion battery will last around three years before requiring replacement. Despite its environmentally friendly credentials, this new limousine still resembles a Rolls in terms of performance. It can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in eight seconds and has a top speed of 100 miles per hour.

The Phantom’s revolutionary battery charging system is remarkably similar to the systems that charge mobile telecommunication devices, cordless toothbrushes and other portable devices; it’s just on a larger scale. The Phantom’s battery can be charged via induction charging, which takes eight hours, or by plugging the limo’s cord into a standard electrical socket, which takes around 20 hours for a full charge.

Rolls-Royce CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, was quite proud when the EX102 was unveiled. He said, “We have engineered the world’s first battery electric car for the ultra-luxury segment. The alternative drive train we choose must deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience. It must be a technology that is right for our customers, our brand and which sets us on a sound footing for a sustainable future. That is why this project is so important.”

Here at NLS Limo, we’re excited about developments in electric limousine technology and have been following news about the EX102 very closely. While we do have hybrid vehicles such as our Toyota Prius and Camry Hybrids in our fleet of vehicles for our environmentally conscious guests, we do not yet have any electric Bay Area limousines in our fleet. With recent developments in the industry, it won’t be long before we add them to our huge selection of San Francisco limos! If you need to rent a hybrid for a day or two or you would like to rent one of our luxurious limousines, just give us a call at 1-800-339-8936 today to learn more about your rental options and our competitive rates. Call NLS Limo, and find our why more and more people choose us as their San Francisco limo service!