Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plans to unveil the Range Rover electric SUV globally this year. However, ahead of the launch, the company is testing the all-electric model in various climates, from -40°C in the Arctic Circle to +50°C in Middle Eastern deserts.
Also, JLR has officially released the initial test pictures of the e-SUV navigating snowy terrain in Sweden’s Arctic Circle. Notably, the electric prototype closely resembles the ICE-powered Range Rover in terms of visual appearance.
Reasons Behind Rigorous Testing
Initial tests prioritized evaluating transmission, electric motors, and electronics in extreme sub-zero temperatures, per the press statement.
Winter testing showcased the all-electric propulsion system, enhancing Range Rover’s performance on low-grip surfaces for unparalleled all-terrain capability.
Moreover, the company revealed that it will manufacture its own battery and electric drive unit (EDU) for the first time.
Thomas Mueller, Executive Director, Product Engineering, said:
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.
To ensure we leave no stone uncovered, we are well underway with our physical testing and development programme, all designed at pushing Range Rover Electric to the extremes to ensure its capability remains unparalleled when it reaches you.
More Details on Prototype Winter Testing
According to JLR, the upcoming all-electric SUV will outperform its traditional Range Rover on icy or low-grip surfaces.
That’s because, unlike traditional setups, the e-SUV employs a unique traction control setup, decentralizing wheel slip management to individual electric drive control units. Therefore, the time taken for torque reaction at each wheel drops significantly, from roughly 100 ms to just 1 ms.
Additionally, innovative in-house software from JLR allows accurate EDU speed control, minimizing ABS intervention through accurate wheel slip management.
Although we got some interesting details from winter testing, the company didn’t disclose any technical details or performance figures.
In Conclusion
Tata Motors inked an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government to invest Rs 9,000 crore in setting up an EV plant. As per sources, the expected plant location is Ranipet, possibly used by the company for Jaguar Land Rover EV production.
Notably, JLR India achieved an 81% sales spike in FY2024, its highest in five years. Furthermore, in the previous fiscal year, which ended on March 31, 2024, the company delivered 4,436 units.
