Perfect for stalking - the electric Land Rover Defender
Land Rover in South Africa has worked with battery specialist Axeon to produce an electric Land Rover Defender for safari trips.
We do tend to bang on about the only use for electric cars being as expensive runarounds in cities, or as toys to play with for the better off. After all, with useless range and sky-high prices electric cars have little going for them.
But it looks like Axeon -Europe’s leading independent developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery systems – has found a nice little niche that suits an electric vehicle down to the ground – Safari transport. Finally, an electric vehicle that makes sense on so many levels.
Working closely with JLR in South Africa, Axeon has removed the engine from a Land Rover Defender and replaced it with a humongous bank of batteries – weighing 400kg – and an electric motor. Sticking the batteries and motor where the engine usually goes means the Defender doesn’t sacrifice any of its legendary ground clearance and wading height.
The 193bhp electric motor and 28.8 kWh battery pack deliver up the sort of performance that would be woeful on a road car, but stuck in the jungle on safari its perfect.
The range – about 60km with a 20km reserve – is enough to do three average safari trips without a recharge and the 243lb/ft of torque – comparable to the 2.4 diesel removed – is enough to move the Electric Land Rover Defender through anything the terrain can throw at it.
Finally, there’s an electric vehicle (that isn’t a milk float) that does a far better job than it could if it were ICE powered. It’s quiet (which means closer to the animals), its entirely emission-free at the point of use (CO2 doesn’t matter but NoX and particulates do) and if it gets recharged from solar panels – and South Africa does have a small surplus of sunshine – it’s genuinely zero emission.
Good thinking all round.
Electric Land Rover Defender Specifications
| Motor Type | Air cooled AC Induction Motor |
| Motor Torque | 330Nm |
| Motor Power | 59kW |
| Regenerative power | 10kW |
| Battery | Air cooled, lithium phosphate |
| Battery Voltage | 300V |
| Battery Capacity | 27kW-hr |
| Tailpipe Emissions | 0 g/km CO2 |
| Range, 60 km/h | 80km + 20km reserve |
| Range, in use | 8 hour game drive |
| Charger Type | Fast charger, single phase |
| Power | 8kW |
| Solar Charge Compatible | Yes |
| Transmission | Defender permanent 4WD with differential lock |
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