What is it?
A prototype plug-in hybrid Range Rover Sport – which on the official cycle emits just 89g/km Co2. Although work in progress for Land Rover - this car is one of only five engineering examples in existence, with a production version yet to be confirmed – what makes this drive relevant is that the technology underpinning this prototype is closely related to a conventional hybrid version of the all-new Range Rover, due in 2013.
In essence, an electric motor replaces the torque converter in a ZF-supplied eight-speed automatic gearbox. One clutch then combines the drive from this with that of a conventional motor – in this case a 3.0-litre TDV6 – before a second clutch engages this with the transmission.
This arrangement allows the hybrid transmission to be paired with a variety of petrol and diesel motors and the resulting drive is transferred to the road – or other surface – through Land Rover’s standard all-wheel drive hardware.
Compared with the conventional hybrid, the plug-in variety tested here uses a larger motor and battery. In this case, it’s a 69kW electric motor capable of supplying 148lb ft of torque – to supplement the diesel’s 443lb ft – and a 14.2kWh lithium ion battery. Also, as the name suggests, the Range_e’s battery can be topped up from the mains supply.
Using a regular 240V, 13-amp domestic supply, a full charge takes a little over four hours. Land Rover claims this gives the Range_e the capability of travelling over 20 miles on electric power alone.
What’s it like?
In practice, though, such figures are of limited relevance, because although the Range_e is capable enough on electric power at low to medium speeds – and in theory it can hit 70mph without troubling its diesel motor (which it does for the official test figures) – you end up using a mix of power sources.
As an example, when I collect the fully charged Range_e it hums into life almost inaudibly and pulls away electrically and with a smoothness entirely befitting a Range Rover. Through town if remains electrically powered, without any real concession to usable performance. If you want to play traffic light grand prix, the electric motor will call for back-up, but drive normally and the car stays electric for longer than any conventional hybrid I’ve tried. Only when accelerating on to a faster road through an uphill slip road did the diesel motor fire.
Join the debate
LP in Brighton
Re: Land Rover Range_e
Interesting technical exercise, but the bottom line is that shifting around 2745kg of metal requires an awful lot of energy, no matter how clever the technology. I would be very interested to know what the actual fuel consumption (and therefore CO2 emissions) was while the vehicle was in Autocar's tenure. Did you actually take the trouble to charge it up from a domestic electricity supply? And what percentage of your motoring was electrically driven?
shortbread
Re: Land Rover Range_e
I think its a good thing they are honing the hybrid powertrain on the existing platform. The savings will be far greater once the next generation lighter aluminium platform.
The Apprentice
Re: Land Rover Range_e
C02 is so low because they don't count that emitted from the AA truck, upon the back of which Land Rover products spend much of their journey.
~ calm down, I 'm only kidding... sort of ~
Citytiger
Re: Land Rover Range_e
When you take into consideration the weight and performance figures, it is amazing what a company with limited resources can achieve. Well done JLR and Mr Chancellor and Mr Mayor of London, perhaps its back to the drawing board for the C charge and VED rates, before Chelsea really is full of Chelsea tractors that are not paying them.
I will not be long before a mainsteam manufacturer mass produce this technology thus making it cheaper and more readily available to the normal family, and the Government will have to look at new and exciting ways to continue to fleece the motorist.The Special One
Re: Land Rover Range_e
[quote Citytiger]When you take into consideration the weight and performance figures, it is amazing what a company with limited resources can achieve. [/quote] When I take into account the weight, I see this as a fundamental failing. Needs to be < 2100kg.
Maxycat
Re: Land Rover Range_e
[quote Citytiger]I will not be long before a mainsteam manufacturer mass produce this technology thus making it cheaper and more readily available to the normal family, and the Government will have to look at new and exciting ways to continue to fleece the motorist.[/quote] If technology like this is practical and becomes affordable to the mass of cars it will not reduce motoring costs for the masses as the government will just bring in mileage charges or some other tax to recoup the billions it would otherwise lose through VED and fuel duty.
Big S
Re: Land Rover Range_e
official co2 figures need to start adding in the co2 per Kwh of electricity rather than including it as 'free'. And we need to get used to seeing economy figures as 'miles per kwh' for electric vehicles too. Then we'd see how efficient EVs or hybrids really are - and the London C-charge can remain meaningful. That said, I applaud LR for applying EV technology in a way that stays true to their core values.
fiesta
Re: Land Rover Range_e
So a Golf Bluemotion weighing 1262kg and with a 1.6 litre diesel engine emits 99 g/km CO2, 10 more than this Range Rover officially emits. A child can understand that such hybrid emissions figures are nonsense, so what is going on? You can't blame manufacturers for playing the game that legislation sets, so either there is collusion between legislators and manufacturers to accept a path of low resistance (weight loss is expensive) or someone somewhere is deeply misguided. Can Autocar at least add a bit of insight to the coverage? You'll be telling me next that a Porsche hypercar can run at over 100mpg. Oh wait...
jer
Re: Land Rover Range_e
[quote shortbread]I think its a good thing they are honing the hybrid powertrain on the existing platform. The savings will be far greater once the next generation lighter aluminium platform.[/quote]
Precise and concisely put.
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