Rolls-Royce is considering using hydrogen fuel cell technology over conventional batteries for its future electric cars once this technology is mature enough to be commercialized at scale for the high standards Rolls-Royce is claiming.

The new Rolls-Royce Spectre made its European debut at the Concours d’Elegance event at Villa d’Este (Como Lake, Italy) last week. It is the Goodwood firm’s first EV and will enter production in September with one of the largest battery packs fitted to any production car: 120 kWh.

This battery is supposed to provide a 500 km range and can be charged fast at a maximum of 195 kW. Nevertheless, CEO Thorsten Müller-Ötvös, speaking to the specialized British magazine Autocar, says that the unique positioning of Rolls-Royce and the use case of the average owner are elements for considering hydrogen as an alternative fuel in the future.

Fuel cell, no ICE on hydrogen

“I think a hydrogen combustion engine is nothing I would in any way look into because that was tested already years ago,” the CEO said. He is referring to parent company BMW that tested the technology twenty years ago in a specially adapted 7 Series with a V12 engine.

“This is not the most efficient way to use hydrogen,” he added. “If hydrogen will be used in the future, then it’s fuel cells. And fuel cells are nothing different from a battery. It is just how you get the energy.”

Müller-Ötvös sees a future in the use of fuel cells in his cars. “I would say so when the time is right for us, and when the technology is so much advanced, that it is definitely something we would pursue as Rolls-Royce. Why not? We might exit batteries, and we might enter into fuel cells.”

Of course, the Rolls-Royce CEO is also influenced by the fact that his mother company, BMW, has just launched a testing fleet of BMW iX5 Hydrogen cars to gain more knowledge about the technology and its everyday use. “The launch demonstrates that the technical maturity of this type of drive system is progressing and underscoring its potential for the future,” he added.

Charging at home

Müller-Ötvös points to one big obstacle when switching to hydrogen: refueling. The refueling infrastructure for hydrogen is virtually non-existent at the moment. On the other hand, charging batteries is very feasible at home.

“All our clients have big garages. There is lots of space at home, and there is lots of space in office buildings to install charging. Quite a lot of our clients already have charging installed at home because, for many, Spectre is not their very first electric car.”

For this reason, Rolls-Royce is “watching closely” for developments in hydrogen fueling infrastructure to evaluate the feasibility of hydrogen propulsion.

Spectre is ready

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has concluded its most extensive testing program ever for the electric Spectre. The manufacturer has concluded it with Lifestyle Analysis testing in the brand’s home market.

As with technical road testing, the Lifestyle Analysis phase of testing is in place to highlight necessary adjustments to the motor car’s specification or performance.

For example, after testing the power-assisted doors on an exceptionally steep hill – replicating the steep driveways common to the hills of Los Angeles, California – engineers added gyroscopic and G-force sensors to ensure that doors open and close at the same effortless speed, regardless of longitudinal or transverse parking angles.

Fittingly, it was during Lifestyle Analysis testing in London, the capital of Rolls-Royce’s home market, that Spectre completed its 2,5-million-kilometer odyssey in preparation for client deliveries, which will commence in the fourth quarter of this year.

“Applying our detailed knowledge of our client’s tastes, habits, and requirements, this unique evaluation process ensures Spectre delivers an authentic, personal, and effortless super-luxury experience, as well as true engineering substance, specific to the most demanding consumer group in the world – the Rolls-Royce client,” the CEO concludes.