Automotive

Land Rover to show Electric Defender Research 4WD

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A range of 50 miles (80 km)
Seven electric Defenders will appear at the Geneva Motor Show
The e-Defender uses a single-speed gearbox and four-wheel-drive system
Land Rover has a fleet of seven electric Defenders to show
The electric Defender research vehicles will be on display in Geneva
The Defender uses a 90-bhp electric motor and 27 kWh battery
It charges as quickly as four hours
The electric Defender is capable on and off road
The research vehicle includes Land Rover technologies like Hill Descent Control and Terrain Response
The Defender uses a 90-bhp electric motor and 27 kWh battery
Land Rover says the Defender still has go-anywhere characteristics, just without the smoking tailpipes
Land Rover has no intentions of handling the electric Defender gingerly
The e-Defender packs 243 lb-ft (330 Nm) of torque
A range of 50 miles (80 km)
Land Rover puts its electric utility vehicle to the test
Land Rover has no plans to produce this e-Defender
Land Rover said it's tested the electric Defender's capabilities in about 2.5 feet (800 mm) of water
The electric Defender isn't afraid to get muddy
Land Rover said it's tested the electric Defender's capabilities in about 2.5 feet (800 mm) of water
Land Rover said it's tested the electric Defender's capabilities in about 2.5 feet (800 mm) of water
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As automotive electric technology advances and grows, we're seeing it move from small city cars to larger vehicles. Toyota and Tesla have both shown electric crossover models, and electric drivetrains are being swapped into existing vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Now, Land Rover is preparing to show an electric update to the most unlikely of models ... the boxy, rugged Defender.

Until Land Rover replaces it with something lame like the DC100 concept, the Defender will continue to serve as the epitome of the brand's tough, no-compromise utility. Like a Jeep Wrangler or Toyota FJ Cruiser, the model's powerful, hard-lined build inspires daydreams of red-rock crawls and geysering stream crossings.

The square-cornered, 4,400-lb (2,000-kg) brute seems like a strange place to begin experimentation with electric driving. Land Rover, however, is interested in tinkering around with potential off-road applications of electric technology. So the Defender is a natural place to start, not to mention an interesting headline for the company. Land Rover says that the electric version still has "tough, go-anwhere capability," just delivered in a zero-local-emissions package.

"This project is acting as a rolling laboratory for Land Rover to assess electric vehicles, even in the most arduous all-terrain conditions," said Antony Harper, Jaguar Land Rover Head of Research. "It gives us a chance to evolve and test some of the technologies that may one day be introduced into future Land Rover models."

The company will showcase a series of seven electric Defender 110 vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show. The "one day" that Harper mentions won't be in the near future, as Land Rover admits outright that it has no production plans for the Defender research vehicles. It will, however, test the electric off-roaders in real world trials later this year.

Land Rover leaves the typical diesel engine and transmission on the factory floor, making room for a 90-bhp (70 kW) electric motor and 27 kWh battery pack. Instead of using two electric motors, as all-wheel-drive electrics tend to do, Land Rover routes power through the Defender's usual four-wheel-drive system. It also uses a single-speed 2.7:1 reduction gearbox and a modified version of Land Rover's Terrain Response System. The e-Defender includes the usual differential lock for extra traction in slick, rigorous off-road situations.

With a 900-pound (410 kg) battery pack to lug around, the electric Defender is bound to be heavier than the ICE version. Land Rover uses air cooling rather than liquid cooling to help save weight, making an electric version that weighs just 220 pounds (100 kg) more than the standard Defender 110.

The battery can be charged in four hours using a 7 kWh fast charger or 10 hours with a 3 kWh charger. Land Rover also optimized the regenerative braking system. When used with the Hill Descent Control, the motor can generate 30 kW of electricity.

Land Rover said it's tested the electric Defender's capabilities in about 2.5 feet (800 mm) of water

Land Rover says that the electric Defender offers some serious utility off the pavement, with the electric powertrain's low-speed capabilities well-suited to climbing obstacles. Trials of the Defender-based Leopard 1 electric proved that it could pull a 13.2-ton (12-tonne) road train up a 13 percent grade and wade through more than 2.5 feet (800 mm) of water.

While Land Rover's EV experiment is interesting, it's unlikely to result in an off-road-capable electric anytime soon. Up until battery capacity and EV design improve markedly, electric powertrains and off-roading will make strange bedfellows unlikely to yield a practical production-ready vehicle. If range anxiety is a problem on highways, it's exponentially larger on dirt and rock roads far away from civilization. Even gas 4x4ers tend to carry around a fuel can to prevent getting stranded in nowhereland. EVs will need to offer many times that 50-mile (80-km) range before they start hitting 4x4 roads in any meaningful way.

Source: Land Rover

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6 comments
Airsoft-World Scotland
The first thing they need to do is lose the steel beam chassis and replace it with an all-aluminium system as they have just successfully produced in the 'All new Range Rover' - a very serious diet plan!
William H Lanteigne
...because running out of charge between charging stations in the city just isn't challenging enough.
Oztechi
The article keeps mentioning that these concept Defender's and their electric technology won't result in an electric 4x4 anytime soon. What rubbish! Why do you think they made them and are testing them then???
Range Rover is close to introducing a diesel-electric hybrid, so it won't be long before that same technology is shared with Land Rover. One Has already been caught testing in public with this configuration and the usual camouflage.
To overcome range anxiety, a similar setup to the Chevrolet Volt could be used, where the petrol engine is used as a generator to recharge the batteries only when needed.
The torque that electric motors provide is great for off-roading and towing. If you put an electric motor in each wheel, then you could really get some traction offroad, regardless of whether another wheel is in contact with the ground or not.
Joe F
Oztechi - You're talking about a series hybrid something different from this totally electric. Have you ever been off-road? A range of 25 miles (you do have to get back to town) is not enough. Nor is double or triple that. A diesel or gas hybrid could work but are not an electric.
Donut
One simple solution not mentioned would be some solar panels to extend range and do some remote recharging for those who get stuck in remote places with too much sunshine. The flat sides and boxy shape would easily be covered by panels. It's not that revolutionary an idea, so why not give it a try.
Stu Fletcher
range extenders might work - fixed RPM fuel efficient generators which supplement the batteries during driving and charge batteries/run accessories when not. handy for camping too.
the gennie only needs to be just big enough to stretch out the range of the batteries to something suitable, not replace them entirely, so (relatively) low fuel consumption and (hopefully) quiet.
not as fuel efficient as a decent ICE engine though, and you can get a lot of the advantages (torque curves, engine stopped water crossings) from a hybrid. i guess what attracts me to electric vehicles is the mechanical simplicity of a couple of electric motors, battery and a controller when compared to a ICE/drive train combination.
i still think that investing in a combination of solar thermal, fischer-tropsch and air mining for diesel manufacture might be more long term sustainable...1 billion vehicles running on lithium technology batteries that are dependent upon rare earth elements doesnt compute.