Jaguar Land Rover shows off three new low emission concepts

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has revealed its key future technology that will shape its low emissions future.

The biggest breakthrough, claims JLR, is new lithium ion batteries that are twice as powerful as any current battery cell technology. These batteries will provide the basis for a new mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-new pure electric vehicle.

The first of the all-new working prototypes is the Concept e MHEV. Created for more compact applications like the Range Rover Evoque, the mild hybrid combines a small 66kW three-cylinder diesel engine and a 48V lithium ion battery pack.

The second is for larger vehicles like the Range Rover Sport. Called the Concept e PHEV – an advanced plug-in hybrid that uses a powerful 320V lithium ion battery combined with an eight-speed automatic and a 150kW electric motor.

Finally, the third concept revealed for the brand is for a vehicle, as yet unconfirmed, that’s thought could be a luxurious Tesla Model S-rival. Based on JLR’s new aluminium platform that underpins both the XE and XEF sedan the new vehicle comes with an 85kW motor powering the front axle and a powerful 145kW motor driving the rear axle.

For JLR’s tougher Land Rover models, the firm has engineered a new two-speed transmission for an electric powertrain application. Instead of the usual reduction gear the added cog should boost low-speed torque.

Advanced torque vectoring will also help the British electric SUVs maintain their fine reputation off road, while an aggressive brake-by-wire system that develops up to 0.5g when you lift off the throttle claws back far more energy than current systems and allows smaller batteries to be fitted.

JLR has yet to confirm performance figures and fuel consumptions for the two hybrids and says it’s unlikely any of the new powertrains will go into production before 2020.

As well as the powertrains JLR also released details of some of the new energy saving tech that will soon be offered. Packaged together under what JLR calls ‘Warm Air Blanket’ innovations, the new tech includes new infra-red reflective interior glass that keeps the cabin cooler, even in direct sunlight.

Cutting the amount of energy needed to heat a cabin has also been addressed. In winter time, infra-red panels mounted in the roof in the future could cut the amount of energy needed to heat the cabin.

In the future, instead of generating heat, clever infra-red panels embedded in the sun visors, door tops and transmission tunnel might warm vehicle occupants, radiating heat far more efficiently than heated, fan-blown air.

Like Audi and other parts of the Volkswagen Group, JLR is also investing in e-boost technology that adds electric-driven turbo- or superchargers that are powered by energy recovered under braking. The advantage of e-turbos is they can deliver maximum boost from idle eradicating lag, boosting performance and cutting fuel use.

The first such concept featuring e-boost is the Range Rover Evoque Provoque concept. Combining a 2.0-litre diesel with an electric motor-driven supercharger powered by a 48V electric system the small SUV concept produces just 99g/km of CO2, but will deliver higher torque and better performance than the standard Evoque.

JLR has already announced that, since 2007, it has cut its emissions by 25 per cent.

Speaking on the unveiling of the new tech, JLR R&D boss Wolfgang Epple, said: "We are very serious about battery electric vehicles and plug-ins,” but added that there was “no single solution” to cutting vehicle emissions.

Epple also announced JLR was investigating how to mix carbon-fibre with new ‘innovative materials’ to slash its vehicles' kerbweights and that it could rely on ‘carbio’ – a mixture of carbon-fibre and cashew nut oil resin in the future. Carbio is lightweight material that’s cheaper to make with a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional carbon-fibre-reinforced plastics. The new material also offers better sound absorbing properties.

Another new material being considered for future JLR vehicles is Varcity – a lower grade carbon-fibre used on wind turbines that, if used as a vehicle platform, slashes weight by over 20 per cent, compared to an all-aluminium architecture.

Carbon-fibre, or a similar material will also be used to cut the weight of car seats by up to 30 per cent.

Reducing the carbon footprint is another target for the future of JLR cars and SUVs. Soon Jaguar and Land Rovers will have sound deadening made from recycled plastics and filler sourced as a by-product of sugar refining.

Even traditional wiring looms could be replaced by more modern printed electrics. It's been reported the latest Range Rover has over 6km of wiring that weighs in at an incredible 94kg.