Electrogenic has converted the City of London Corporation’s 1973 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI official limousine to electric power, fitting a 120 kW (161 hp) motor and a 62 kWh battery pack with a real-world range the company puts at 100–120 miles. The Oxford, UK-based EV powertrain specialist says the conversion is fully reversible, with nothing cut, drilled or welded on the original car. The project was commissioned during the mayoralty of Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley DBE, the 697th Lord Mayor of the City of London, who is styled “Lady Mayor,” and forms part of the Corporation’s target of net zero carbon emissions from its own operations by 2027. The electrified Phantom VI will be displayed at Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace from September 2 to 6, 2026.
Highlights
- Powertrain: 120 kW (161 hp) electric motor producing 229 lb-ft (310 Nm) of torque through a single-speed direct-drive transmission
- Battery: 62 kWh pack mounted under the hood, with 100 kW CCS DC fast charging
- Range: 100–120 miles real-world, according to Electrogenic, with space to double battery capacity in the future
- Ceremonial mode: Reduced power and torque with relaxed throttle mapping for processional driving
A Reversible Conversion of a Rare State Car
The Phantom VI was one of 374 examples built, and this car, dating from 1973, has served as an official limousine for the City of London. Electrogenic installed the motor and battery in place of the original powertrain, using the space under the hood for the 62 kWh pack. At just under 20 feet long, the car has room to double battery capacity later if more range is required, the company says.
Consistent with its other conversions, Electrogenic states that the work is entirely reversible. The company previously electrified a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II among its bespoke projects.
Steve Drummond, CEO, Electrogenic, said: “We were honoured to be asked to electrify this significant motor car, and to play a part in the City of London Corporation’s journey to net zero. When it was launched in the late 1960s, the Rolls-Royce VI was the most refined and dignified limousine on the road. Now, thanks to electrification, its core character has been enhanced further: it is whisper quiet, effortless to drive with swift performance, and emits zero tailpipe emissions.
“Our team has sympathetically preserved everything that made the original car so special, while giving it a clean, modern powertrain perfectly suited to carrying out ceremonial duties in a modern city. The result is the ideal ceremonial limousine, full of character and now future-proofed and preserved so Londoners can continue to enjoy it for decades to come.”
How Was the Phantom VI Adapted for Ceremonial Duty?
Electrogenic tailored the conversion to the car’s civic role. The original automatic column shift now provides a forward-neutral-reverse input, and a small screen displaying EV status information is concealed in the glove box. The company also added modern heating for the rear cabin for winter engagements, and 100 kW CCS rapid charging allows top-ups between events.
The powertrain runs two driving modes through Electrogenic’s proprietary vehicle control software:
- Normal: Regenerative braking is tuned for one-pedal driving with performance suited to urban use.
- Ceremonial: Power and torque are reduced and throttle mapping is relaxed to hold the slow pace required by civic processions and state occasions.
Why the Corporation Chose to Convert Rather Than Replace
Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley, added: “I’m delighted to see this iconic part of the City’s heritage being brought into the modern era. The Mayoral Ceremonial Fleet is a distinctive symbol of the City of London, and this project shows that preserving our traditions does not mean standing still.
“This is exactly the kind of innovation we should embrace: respecting our heritage while finding new ways to make the mayoralty more sustainable, relevant and fit for the future. I’m particularly excited to see one of these historic vehicles given a new lease of life through electric power, combining the best of the City’s past with its future.
“The City of London Corporation had been exploring options to modernise and improve its Mayoral Ceremonial Fleet for approximately five years. This included considering a range of options, from selling the existing vehicles and purchasing replacements, to undertaking extensive repairs and refurbishment of the three Rolls-Royces.
“Following detailed consideration, it was concluded that the most sustainable and cost-effective solution in the long term was to retain these historic vehicles while bringing them into the modern era.”
Langley concluded: “We were delighted to welcome the vehicle back following its transformation, marking an important step in modernising the Mayoral Ceremonial Fleet while preserving the heritage and character of these iconic vehicles. The project demonstrated how historic assets can be responsibly adapted for the future, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern electric technology.”
Electrogenic’s Wider Powertrain Business
Beyond bespoke conversions, Electrogenic develops EV powertrain systems for vehicle manufacturers and technology for UK defense applications, built around its EG-OS vehicle control system. The company offers plug-and-play conversion kits for models including the Land Rover Defender, classic Porsche 911, Jaguar E-Type and DeLorean DMC-12 through an approved partner network. Bespoke conversions are completed at its Oxford headquarters and at a facility in Huntington Beach, California.
