Range Rover has teased details of its new electric flagship, including the battery size and information about a new system to reduce energy usage in cold weather.
The new ThermAssist technology it announced is an on-board thermal management system which is said to reduce heating energy consumption by up to 40 per cent. It recovers heat to warm the propulsion system or cabin in ambient temperatures as low as -10C.
The advanced heat management technology ensures Range Rover Electric delivers optimised driving range, even in the coldest temperatures. It also minimises the impact of extreme temperatures on charging performance.
The high-voltage 117kWh, 800V battery is the first to be designed and built in-house at JLR. It is fully encased and consists of 344 prismatic cells in a double-stacked layout.
The Range Rover Electric is also said to take single pedal driving to an advanced new level. In addition to slowing the vehicle and delivering charge into the battery from regenerative braking, it is also tuned to work with Terrain Response. Single pedal driving will bring the vehicle to a complete stop and will engage Hill Hold, enabling the driver to move off again without having touched the brakes at any point.
Switchable twin-chamber air suspension has been developed to manage body movements brought about by the electric model’s distinctive weight distribution.
The motors are said to offer benefits off road too. Working with Integrated Traction Management, stability is maintained – controlling motor speed within 50 milliseconds and managing slip up to 100 times quicker than an ICE vehicle equivalent.
The Range Rover Electric is going on sale in the autumn, and will be the first of a new line up of electric Land Rover and Jaguar models, including the new Velar, spotted testing by Ginny last month.
