Electrogenic electrifies classic 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II

EV conversion specialist Electrogenic has revealed its latest bespoke conversion, a fully-electric 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Commissioned by a private collector, the Phantom is making its public debut at Salon Privé, one of the world’s leading Concours events.

One of just 1,681 Phantom IIs crafted between 1920 and 1935, Electrogenic, also known for its range of revolutionary ‘drop-in’ EV conversion kits for popular models – has fitted the vehicle with a powerful electric powertrain, featuring Electrogenic’s proprietary EV technology.

The car was originally powered by a 7.7-litre pushrod straight-six, producing between 40 and 50bhp, bolted directly to a four-speed, non-synchromesh manual gearbox. In its standard configuration Rolls-Royce claimed a top speed of ‘well over 80mph’. Now, the petrol engine and gearbox have been carefully removed, replaced by 93kWh of batteries which have been carefully integrated into the existing structure of the car.

The batteries feed an electric motor mounted between the chassis rails via a custom single-speed direct drive transmission, delivering 150kW and 310Nm of torque to the fixed reduction gear, which in turn delivers 1,000Nm to the prop shaft. The systems are all seamlessly linked and managed by a bespoke suite of software – all developed in house by Electrogenic’s software engineers.

Steve Drummond, Director, Electrogenic, said: “We’re delighted to reveal this fabulous EV converted Phantom II to the world. It has been an immensely complicated and rewarding project, carried out over the course of 18 months by our team of sector-leading engineers, programmers and fabricators.

“This is undoubtedly the most complex classic car EV conversion yet attempted, the stunning results really are a testament to the world-leading talents of our team. We’re immensely proud of the results, and we’re delighted to be unveiling it at Salon Privé, here at Blenheim Palace. It’s the perfect place to reveal such a stately piece of British motoring history, now updated and future-proofed for the next hundred years of clean, silent electric motoring.”

As with every Electrogenic conversion, the battery configuration has been tailored specifically to the model in question; housed within the car’s original architecture, no modifications are made to the structure itself. Electrogenic leads the world with its flexible battery installation systems.

The updated machine is also vastly more efficient than the original; despite its significant weight and a drag ratio of close to one, the state of the art powertrain with regen capabilities offers a range of circa 150 miles in real-world driving. Electrogenic have also engineered in different driving modes, with normal ‘Drive’, range boosting ‘Eco’ and high-performance ‘Sport’ settings.  There is also a ‘regen doubler’ setting for the regenerative braking, which the driver can deploy on long, steep descents.

Drummond concluded: “We’re honoured to have been asked to build this special car for such a delightful private collector, someone who loves their cars and is deeply passionate about the environment. It’s been an immensely rewarding collaborative process with the owner, bringing our shared vision to life.

“It’s been technically challenging – from initially exploring the feasibility of the project and technical specifications, to then developing different rendered options for how we would integrate the EV componentry. This included options for how the batteries should be displayed under the bonnet. This level of choice is all part of the premium ultra-bespoke conversion service we offer clients.

“While it sounds like we’ve carried out a great deal of modifications – and we have – I’m particularly proud of the fact that, as with all Electrogenic conversions, nothing has been drilled or cut on the car. All the parts can be reassembled, and the car returned to its original state, if required.

“This really has been a fascinating project to work on, and one that we’ve poured our hearts and souls into. We’re delighted with the results; it combines the most stunning 1920s coachbuilding with an updated driving experience that’s entirely befitting of a Rolls-Royce. Every single member of the Electrogenic team has contributed to this project and we are all proud to have added our mark to this remarkable motor car, readying it for a further hundred years of dignified, stately – and now clean – motoring.”