With a new-generation Defender at least three years away, Land Rover will debut a radical all-electric version of the current model at next week’s Geneva motor show. Officially labelled a ‘research vehicle’ that’s designed to showcase “sustainable automotive solutions” by delivering zero-emissions “while retaining legendary all-terrain capability”, the Electric Defender combines an electric motor with a lithium-ion battery pack. Land Rover stresses there are no plans for the Defender EV to enter series production, but says seven examples will go into service in specialist applications later this year. “This project is acting as a rolling laboratory for Land Rover to assess electric vehicles, even in the most arduous all-terrain conditions,” said Jaguar Land Rover Head of Research, Antony Harper.
“It gives us a chance to evolve and test some of the technologies that may one day be introduced into future Land Rover models.”
In place of the current Defender’s diesel engine and gearbox is a 70kW/330Nm electric motor powered by a 300-volt lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 27kWh.
Land Rover says the combination is good for a driving range of more than 80km and that in typical, low speed off-road use the battery will offer up to eight hours of power on a full charge, which takes four hours with a 7kW fast-charger or 10 hours with a portable 3kW charger.
With maximum torque available from start-up, a single speed 2.7:1 reduction gearbox and the standard Defender’s four-wheel drive system and differential lock fitted, Land Rover says the Electric Defender retains all of the off-road icon’s go-anywhere ability – without the need to change gears.
Unlike other EVs, that includes pulling a 12-tonne 'road train' up a 13 per cent gradient and wading to a depth of 800mm, both of which were part of trials successfully undertaken by Land Rover's Advanced Engineering Team with a Defender-based electric vehicle dubbed Leopard 1.
With the 410kg battery pack mounted in place of the standard diesel engine in the Defender 110’s engine bay, kerb weight is up by 100kg to between 2055kg and 2162kg, depending on body style – pick-up, hard-top or station wagon.
Land Rover says all of the electric powertrain’s major components – including the battery, inverter and motor – are air-cooled rather than liquid cooled, reducing weight and complexity, and increasing robustness.
It claims the regenerative braking system has been optimised to such an extent that the motor can generate 30kW of electricity while using Hill Descent Control.
Depending on conditions, up to 80 per cent of kinetic energy can be recovered because the battery can be charged at a rate of up to twice its 54kW capacity without reducing its life, says Land Rover.
Head to motoring.com.au for more photos of the Land Rover Defender EV
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