Land Rover has revealed an electric version of its iconic Defender, which will go on display at next week's Geneva Motor Show.
And the first thing to point out is that the electric Defender is not Land Rover's attempt to create a rival for the Nissan Leaf or the Peugeot i-On, but a research showcase for new electric technology which the company is using to assess whether or not electric off-roaders have a future.
Under the bonnet, Land Rover has ditched the standard Defender's diesel engine and fitted a 94bhp electric motor with 243lb-ft of torque.
The motor is powered by a 300-volt lithium-ion battery which weighs 410kg but, despite this extra weight, the electric Defender weighs 100kg less than its diesel brother. Land Rover has achieved this by using air cooling rather than water cooling for the motor, removing a considerable amount of weight and complexity.
Land Rover claims that the e-Defender will run for up to 50-miles between trips to the plug and that even during low-speed off-road use the battery will last for up to eight hours. The battery can be recharged in 10 hours using a portable charger or four hours using a 7kW fast charger.
The EV retains the standard Defender's four-wheel-drive system and diff-locks, but because the electric motor delivers maximum torque from the moment it starts, the electric car makes do with a single-speed transmission. A modified version of Land Rover's Terrain Response System is also fitted.
Land Rover has subjected the EV to rigorous off-road testing. The firm claims that the Defender can wade through up to 80cm of water and pull a 12-tonne 'road train' up a 13 per cent gradient.
There are no plans as yet to put the Land Rover Defender EV into production.
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