Prototypes tested to extreme

Range Rover Electric’s first prototypes have been deployed at some of the world’s most challenging test locations. 

The marque’s all-electric drivetrain has been put through its paces at extreme temperatures – from minus 40C in the Arctic Circle to plus 50C in the Middle East’s deserts.

The first tests have focused on the capability of the battery and electric drive unit (EDU), effectively the vehicle’s core components including the transmission, electric motor and power electronics. Both have been assembled in-house by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) for the first time.

Testing on the frozen lakes in Sweden has demonstrated Range Rover’s new in-house all-electric propulsion system. This will allow it to “exceed its already renowned performance on low-grip surfaces, ensuring the all-terrain, all-weather and all-surface capability remains unparalleled”.

In another first for Range Rover, a new traction-control system delivers “exceptional levels” of performance on ice and other low-grip surfaces. 

Rather than a traditional set-up based solely in the ABS unit, Range Rover Electric distributes the wheel-slip management task directly to each electric drive-control unit, reducing the torque reaction time at each wheel from around 100 milliseconds to as little as one millisecond.

Software developed by JLR enables precise EDU speed control for accurate management of slip, reducing the need for ABS intervention. 

Traction is maximised on all surfaces to “significantly enhance the Range Rover drive experience”. This system works with stability control and chassis systems to provide a more overall refined drive.

Thomas Mueller, executive director of product engineering, says: “Range Rover with electric power means customary Range Rover luxury, refinement and capability plus near-silent fully electric propulsion with effortlessly smooth and relaxed journeys.”