There’s at least one area where Rolls-Royce’s first EV may leave drivers wanting.
The E.P.A. has just released its estimated driving range figures for the Spectre, which top out at 291 miles, according to Car and Driver. That number isn’t bad per se, but it is something we don’t normally associate with a Rolls—distinctly average.
The federal agency—which publishes fuel economy information for every gas- and battery-powered vehicle sold in the U.S.—has posted driving range estimates for all four Spectre variations available in the British marque’s 2024 lineup. The standard model with 22-inch wheels performed best, able to travel 291 miles between charges. It was followed by the Spectre Black Badge on 22-inch wheels, which has a range of 280 miles. After that comes the standard Spectre on 23-inch wheels, which clocked in at 266 miles. And, in last place, is the Spectre Black Badge on 23-inch wheels, which can run just 264 miles before exhausting its battery.
The E.P.A. estimate is about what Rolls-Royce was expecting for its debut electric model. That doesn’t mean that it’s not a little disappointing, especially with so many other luxury EVs having ranges in excess of 300 miles (not to mention the Lucid Air’s 500-plus-mile range). The Spectre actually has an identical range to the top-of-the-line BMW i7 M70, which isn’t much of a shock considering the two EVs share a 102-kWh battery pack with (BMW has owned Rolls-Royce since 2023). Of course, pricing for the i7 M70 begins at $168,500, while the Spectre starts at $420,000. Considering the $250,000 discrepancy between the two, you’d expect a little more separation.
Of course, it’s unlikely that the Spectre’s pedestrian range is going to put off anyone who’d been thinking about buying Rolls-Royce’s electric super coupé. The EV has a dual-motor electric powertrain that produces 584 hp (or 650 hp in the Black Badge variant) and can rocket you from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and to a top speed of 155 mph in complete silence. And look, if, for some reason, a Spectre driver ever decides to take the EV on a road trip, they’ll be able to refill their battery from 10 to 80 percent in just over a half hour with a 195 kW DC fast charger.