Land Rover Defender all-electric – quietly game for game

Land Rover Defender all-electric – quietly game for game
Click to enlarge

Do not disturb the animals – well, that would definitely be the case if you’ve got one of these around. It’s an all-electric version of the iconic Land Rover Defender, and it’s meant for use in game parks, where minimising noise levels is as beneficial as reducing environmental pollution.

Jaguar Land Rover South Africa launched the electric Defender as a concept vehicle at the INDABA tourism exhibition in Durban earlier this week. The vehicle, co-developed with Axeon, Europe’s leading independent developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery systems, is a Defender 110 High Capacity Pick Up with an EV powertrain in place of the standard 2.4 litre diesel engine.

The Axeon pack has been designed to fit into the vehicle’s engine bay in order to maintain ground clearance and wading height for the purpose-built vehicle. The bespoke battery system also incorporates Axeon’s proprietary Battery Management System (BMS), which monitors the battery state as well as measures and controls key operational parameters, important factors for an EV operating in harsh conditions.

Land Rover Defender all-electric – quietly game for game
Click to enlarge

In testing, the range has been shown to be capable of three times a typical game drive on a single charge – in this case around 80 km, with a 20 km reserve range.

The electric Defender has been well received by experienced LR drivers, including those from the official Land Rover Experience, and has done quite nicely in testing at the rigorous and gruelling Gerotek test facility in Pretoria. In use, the quiet operation has meant a vehicle with the ability to get closer to animals within a game park. All the better to see you with, one supposes.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Nice, but what is that seat for?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Lewis on May 10, 2011 at 8:24 pm

    Good car. Chassis is very good. Durable enough.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • GT Driver on May 10, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    Lest they startle a bunch of hungry lion when trying to sneak behind them..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • masak satay on May 10, 2011 at 11:00 pm

    if the battery run out in the middle of africa(if in the middle of wildlife)..,habis la…. :'(

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • hook up a gen set to it for a couple of hours n ull be ready to go….

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • objectivism on May 10, 2011 at 11:55 pm

    hey guys… want to know… if drive this car, is it possible to dodge the toll? LOLLLLLL Thanks.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • driveology on May 11, 2011 at 1:37 am

    look very tough. that seat is like in cinema… cool

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • racefans on May 11, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    thinking of getting a second hand defender 110, been browsing through LROM website but not much info available for newbie like me..
    just wonder how much is road tax for TD110 either diesel or petrol, can anyone help on this?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Fantine on May 24, 2011 at 10:37 pm

    Fell out of bed feeling down. This has brigehtend my day!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required