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BY MARK WORGAN

Range Rover has launched its first-ever fully electric vehicle.

Each model will be manufactured to order and will use twin permanent magnet motors designed to provide power comparable to that of a V8 engine.

The company said the vehicle had also been engineered to retain Range Rover's established off-road capabilities, as it will also be capable of wading through water up to 900mm deep.

The launch comes as car manufacturers continue to invest heavily in electric vehicle technology while adapting factories and retraining workers for the transition away from traditional combustion engines.

Range Rover says the vehicle can travel up to 333 miles on a single charge under the US EPA testing system, meaning most customers should be able to complete their typical daily journeys without recharging.

Martin Limpert, Managing Director, Range Rover, said: “Range Rover Electric is the result of a decade of considered engineering and technological development, setting a new benchmark for The Original Luxury SUV. Electric propulsion is perfectly suited to the exquisite refinement of Range Rover, elevating the sense of calm and secluded sanctuary for occupants.”

The company says electric propulsion reduces cabin noise while delivering greater responsiveness and torque than any previous Range Rover.

The vehicle has been developed on an architecture designed from the outset to accommodate electric propulsion.

Its Intelligent Driveline Dynamics system can distribute rear torque between 0% and 100% to help prevent loss of traction, while Integrated Traction Management can control motor speed within 50 milliseconds.

Range Rover says the system can manage wheel slip up to 100 times faster than an equivalent internal combustion engine vehicle.

The technology works alongside a new Single Pedal mode, allowing the vehicle to pull away smoothly on gradients of up to 33 degrees and complete rolling climbs on slopes of up to 45 degrees.

Matt Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director, JLR, added: “The defining characteristic of Range Rover Electric is its ability to perform across every surface, with effortless comfort and refinement. We’ve worked tirelessly to ensure it retains those qualities. From challenging low-grip and rough terrain to smooth, high-speed roads, it remains incredibly composed and refined, with a real sense of control and confidence. The responsiveness and precision of the new driveline control systems, enabled by electric propulsion, perfectly support this. We’re very proud of the result.”

The Range Rover Electric is fitted with a usable 118.5kWh lithium-ion battery made up of 344 prismatic cells.

Its 800-volt electrical architecture allows for fast charging, while the twin motors use silicon carbide semiconductors designed to improve efficiency and performance.

The vehicle can accelerate from 0-60mph in as little as 4.3 seconds, while overtaking from 50-75mph can take as little as 2.7 seconds.

Using a 350kW rapid DC public charger, Range Rover says the battery can charge from 10% to 80% in about 22 minutes.

Alternatively, it can add up to 125 miles of range in 10 minutes when charging at its maximum rate, based on EPA measurements.

Owners can use the Range Rover app to remotely access a number of vehicle functions.
These include cabin purification, the heated steering wheel, vehicle locking, live location, battery charge status and predicted driving range.

The app also allows owners to schedule charging while the vehicle is plugged in, potentially helping them take advantage of lower electricity tariffs.

In North America, the vehicle is compatible with the Tesla Supercharger network through its built-in NACS connection. An optional Range Rover home charger is also available.

The company says the vehicle has been tested in temperatures as low as -40F/-40C in Arjeplog, Sweden, as well as in the heat of the Dubai desert and at JLR's Eastnor Castle testing facility in the UK.

The launch has been supported by a major transformation of JLR's Solihull manufacturing plant, where Range Rover has been produced since 1970.

The investment has combined advanced manufacturing and digital technology with a large-scale programme to develop electrification skills among the workforce.

JLR says 9,000 manufacturing employees at Solihull have been trained for electrification, with a further 1,500 workers trained across its wider West Midlands operations.

Orders are now open for the Range Rover Electric in short- and long-wheelbase versions.
Customers can choose SE and Autobiography specifications, as well as SV, SV Black and SV Ultra models.

A limited First Edition is also available in Belgravia Green, Santorini Black and Varesine Blue, with a choice of newly introduced Light Cloud Ultrafabrics PU and Kvadrat interiors.
Customers seeking greater personalisation can use Range Rover's Bespoke commissioning service, which offers a wider selection of paint colours and finishes, materials and colour combinations. The service also includes personalised details such as bespoke embroidery.