Rolls-Royce, a name synonymous with ultimate luxury and automotive excellence, is on the cusp of a historic announcement. But as the world eagerly anticipates the unveiling of its first all-electric model, it’s crucial to understand that this step is not a radical departure, but rather a return to the company’s foundational principles. The story of the Rolls Royce Car is deeply intertwined with the very concept of electric power, a heritage championed by its visionary founders over a century ago.
Why Electric Power Aligns Perfectly with the Rolls-Royce Ethos
At the dawn of the 20th century, the internal combustion engine was just one of several contenders for powering the future of automobiles. Steam, electricity, and gasoline engines were all vying for dominance. While steam quickly faded, the battle for supremacy largely came down to internal combustion versus electric power. Ultimately, the limitations of early electric technology – range anxiety and lack of charging infrastructure – led to the widespread adoption of gasoline engines.
However, the intrinsic advantages of electric power were always clear, especially for luxury vehicles. The silent operation, instant torque, immense power delivery, and absence of emissions perfectly resonate with the core values of a Rolls Royce car. These characteristics, admired by engineers and discerning drivers alike, are precisely what Rolls-Royce aims to deliver in its electric future. Imagine a Rolls Royce car, gliding effortlessly and silently, providing unparalleled comfort and performance – this is the promise of electric power that aligns seamlessly with the marque’s identity. It’s even been speculated that Sir Henry Royce himself, had the technological hurdles been overcome sooner, might have exclusively chosen electric propulsion for his creations.
Sir Henry Royce: An Electrical Engineering Pioneer
Henry Royce, born in 1863, was not just an automotive genius; he was first and foremost a pioneering electrical engineer. His journey began with an apprenticeship at the Great Northern Railway, but his burgeoning interest in electrics led him to Greenwood & Batley in Leeds, where he honed his skills as a toolmaker and deepened his fascination with electrical power.
Moving to London in 1881, Royce joined the Electric Light & Power Generating Company, further solidifying his expertise. Evenings were spent at the City & Guilds of London Institute, supplementing his limited formal education with specialized knowledge in electrics. His ambition and talent propelled him to Liverpool at just 19, becoming Chief Electrician at Lancashire Maxim-Weston Electric Co. Ltd, illuminating streets and theatres. Despite the company’s eventual failure, Royce’s entrepreneurial spirit shone through as he established F H Royce & Co.
Initially producing electrical appliances like doorbells and switches, F H Royce & Co quickly expanded into more complex machinery – dynamos, electric motors, and winches. Notably, in 1902, Royce supplied electric motors to Pritchett & Gold, a battery manufacturer venturing into electric car production. While Royce never built his own electric car, his combustion engines were engineered to emulate the smooth, silent, and powerful driving experience now synonymous with electric vehicles. His profound electrical expertise laid the groundwork for Rolls-Royce’s enduring legacy of innovation, positioning the marque as a leader in electrification long before the modern electric car era.
The Honourable Charles Rolls: A Prophetic Vision of Electric Cars
The Honourable Charles Rolls, the other half of the Rolls-Royce founding partnership, also possessed a deep-seated fascination with electricity, predating even his passion for motor cars. As a mere nine-year-old, he ingeniously wired an electric bell between his bedroom and the stables of his family estate, The Hendre. Further showcasing his electrical acumen and persuasive abilities, he convinced his father, Lord Llangattock, to fund the electrification of the servants’ quarters.
Rolls’ automotive journey began in 1896 with a Peugeot Phaeton, but his interest in electric vehicles soon emerged. In 1898, while studying engineering at Cambridge, he acquired a Columbia Electric Carriage, an American import he considered the best electric car available at the time.
His insightful perspective on electric cars was captured in a prescient interview published in The Motor-Car Journal in April 1900. Rolls declared, “The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration, and they should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged. But for now, I do not anticipate that they will be very serviceable – at least for many years to come.“
Charles Rolls pictured in his Columbia Electric Carriage, highlighting his early adoption of electric vehicle technology.
Rolls even contributed to addressing the charging challenge by establishing a battery-charging station at his London car showroom, catering to the popular electric Broughams of the time. In 1904, he initially agreed to represent the Contal Electromobile electric car. However, his encounter with Henry Royce and Royce’s groundbreaking motor car led him to famously change course, marking the beginning of the Rolls-Royce legacy. While his prediction of a long road to viable electric vehicles proved accurate, one can only imagine how much sooner that day might have arrived had this visionary entrepreneur not been tragically lost at a young age.
Key Figures Who Shaped Rolls-Royce’s Electric Roots
Beyond Rolls and Royce, several other individuals played crucial, often unsung, roles in shaping the nascent Rolls-Royce company and its connection to electric power.
Henry Edmunds, often called ‘The Godfather of Rolls-Royce’, was instrumental in bringing Rolls and Royce together. Royce met Edmunds during his time at Brush Electrical Engineering Company Ltd. Edmunds was a prominent figure in the world of electricity, a friend of both Joseph Swan and Thomas Edison. He pioneered electric lighting, traction, and telephony and spearheaded the world’s first electrified underground railway, the City & Southwick Railway in London. In 1888, Edmunds founded W T Glover & Company, a leading manufacturer of electricity cabling. Notably, in 1894, Royce designed and installed the lighting for a vast dock complex illuminated with cables supplied by Edmunds’ company. While his direct involvement in Royce’s car development is undocumented, Edmunds’ extensive motoring experience likely provided valuable advice and encouragement to Royce.
E A Claremont is often mistakenly credited as Royce’s co-founder of F H Royce & Co. While Claremont joined around six months after the company’s inception, his role was nonetheless significant. He became a partner, Joint Managing Director of F H Royce & Company Limited, Chairman of Royce Limited, and the first Chairman of Rolls-Royce Limited. Both Royce and Claremont were esteemed Members of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, further highlighting the company’s deep-rooted electrical engineering expertise.
Claude Johnson, the self-proclaimed ‘Hyphen in Rolls-Royce,’ was a dynamic salesman who became crucial to the company’s early success. Prior to joining C S Rolls and Co, Johnson worked for Paris Singer’s City & Suburban Electric Carriage company and was secretary of the Automobile Club of Great Britain & Ireland, which included Henry Edmunds among its members. Becoming Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Ltd, Johnson masterfully promoted the new marque, even describing the Rolls-Royce car in early advertisements as being “as smooth and quiet as an electric,” emphasizing the electric-like refinement of their petrol engines. Intriguingly, Paris Singer, his former employer from the electric car company, became the very first owner of a Rolls-Royce car, further solidifying the interconnectedness of Rolls-Royce with the electric vehicle world from its inception.
Rolls-Royce Electrification: From Experimental Concepts to Production Reality
Continuing the pioneering spirit of its founders, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has remained at the forefront of electrification within the luxury automotive sector. For over a decade at their Goodwood Home, they have been diligently researching and developing electric vehicle technology, culminating in the imminent launch of their first fully electric Rolls Royce car.
2011 – Phantom Experimental Electric (102EX): Rolls-Royce took a bold step in 2011 with the Phantom EE (102EX), a fully functional, battery-electric version of their flagship Phantom. This wasn’t intended for production but served as a vital experimental platform. Clients, VIPs, media, and enthusiasts were invited to experience electric Rolls Royce car driving and provide direct feedback to the company’s engineers and designers.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Experimental Electric (102EX), a pioneering testbed for electric luxury.
The 102EX replaced the Phantom’s 6.75-litre V12 with a lithium-ion battery pack and two electric motors, delivering 290kW of power and 800Nm of torque. While lauded for its near-silent operation and impressive torque, the Phantom EE highlighted the challenges of range, charging times, and battery life that needed to be overcome to meet Rolls-Royce standards.
2016 – Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 (103EX): In 2016, Rolls-Royce unveiled the radical VISION NEXT 100 (103EX) concept car, a futuristic vision of luxury mobility. This autonomous, all-electric concept explored personalized, immersive, and emotionally resonant motoring experiences.
The Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 (103EX), a glimpse into the future of electric, autonomous luxury.
Built on four design pillars – coachbuilt personalization, AI-powered virtual assistant and chauffeur, a ‘Grand Sanctuary’ interior, and a commanding ‘Grand Arrival’ presence – the 103EX, though never intended for production (indicated by the ‘EX’ suffix), showcased Rolls-Royce’s commitment to an electric and autonomous future. Its three-year global tour further solidified its role as a visionary statement.
The Dawn of Electric Rolls Royce Car
As Rolls-Royce prepares to unveil its first production electric car, it’s clear this is more than just keeping up with industry trends. It’s a deeply considered step, rooted in the company’s very DNA. The legacy of Royce and Rolls, pioneers of both automotive and electrical engineering, provides a powerful foundation for this electric transformation. The future Rolls Royce car will not only represent the pinnacle of electric luxury but also embody the innovative spirit of its founders, proving that the pursuit of electric excellence is truly in the marque’s heritage.
To witness the next chapter in this extraordinary story, visit www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com on 29 September at 13.00 BST.
