The prewar 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II will make its appearance at the Salon Privé Concours d’Elegance in the United Kingdom. This unique vehicle has been converted to an electric car by Electrogenic, an EV conversion specialist.
The original 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II was known for its luxurious features. It was powered by a 7.7-liter straight-six engine, which produced around 40 to 50 horsepower. The power was sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed, non-synchromesh manual transmission.
In this one-off conversion created by Electrogenic for a private collector, the classic Rolls-Royce has been equipped with a 93-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Part of the battery pack is housed under an aluminum cowling under the hood, while the rest is located between the chassis rails. This setup provides a real-world driving range of 150 miles.
The electric motor, with a power output of 201 horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque, is positioned between the chassis rails. It transfers 737 lb ft of torque to the prop shaft through a fixed reduction gear.
The conversion process faced challenges such as preserving the car’s “through-flow” chassis lubrication system and redesigning the cable-operated braking system. Electrogenic found a solution to maintain the lubrication system’s functionality despite the removal of the original straight-six engine. They also repositioned the brake pedal and levers, retrofitting a hydraulic booster and calibrating the system to work with the electric motor’s regenerative braking function.
The modernized Rolls-Royce offers three driving modes: “Drive,” “Eco” for extended range, and “Sport” for higher performance. Additionally, it features a “regen doubler” mode for stronger regenerative braking on steep descents.
The interior of the vehicle has been discreetly updated, with the original controls repurposed and reworked. The fuel gauge has been replaced with an LED gauge that displays the battery’s state of charge, while the old amp meter now shows the rate of power draw and power recuperation. The oil temperature gauge now displays charger temperature, and the water temperature gauge shows the electric motor’s temperature.
A modern audio system with Bluetooth connectivity has also been integrated into the cabin, including a hidden subwoofer under the rear seat.
Steve Drummond, Director at Electrogenic, expressed his pride in the completion of this complex classic car EV conversion. He believes it showcases the company’s world-leading expertise and is the perfect addition to Salon Privé, as it combines British motoring history with clean and silent electric motoring.
This project took 18 months to complete and is now part of Electrogenic’s growing portfolio of EV conversions, which includes drop-in kits for cars like the Porsche 911, original Mini, and Jaguar E-Type. They also offer customized conversions for vehicles such as the Porsche 356C, Citroen DS, and Land Rover Defender.
