Range Rover Electric Completes Second Arctic Test Phase

Range Rover Electric prototypes have completed their second winter testing season in the Arctic Circle, accumulating up to 45,000 miles across frozen lakes and land tracks in northern Europe, the company announced Friday.

The testing phase in Arjeplog, Sweden focused on validating the vehicle's thermal management system, branded ThermAssist, which reduces heating energy consumption by up to 40 percent and can recover heat to warm the propulsion system or cabin in temperatures as low as -10C.

"Rigorous testing procedures in extreme conditions like those experienced in Arjeplog are crucial to Range Rover Electric's real-world reliability," said Thomas Müller, Executive Director of Product Engineering at JLR. "Our second winter season has provided the perfect opportunity to put our new ThermAssist technology to the test."

The vehicle features JLR's first in-house designed and built high-voltage 800V battery with 117kWh capacity, consisting of 344 prismatic cells in a double-stacked layout. According to the company, the battery employs cell-to-pack architecture to optimize performance, energy density, range and charging times.

Engineers also tested the vehicle's single-pedal driving capabilities, which incorporate regenerative braking and are tuned to work with the Terrain Response system. The company states that this feature can bring the vehicle to a complete stop and engage Hill Hold without requiring the driver to use the brake pedal, even on steep inclines.

Matt Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director at JLR, noted that maintaining Range Rover's driving character while transitioning to electric power presented challenges. "By increasing its torsional stiffness and improving its responses, we've been able to maintain a customary Range Rover driving experience that feels familiar," he said.

The vehicle employs switchable twin-chamber air suspension to manage body movements resulting from the electric model's weight distribution. Its all-wheel drive technology includes Intelligent Driveline Dynamics that can distribute rear torque from 100% to 0% to prevent loss of traction, while controlling motor speed within 50 milliseconds.

Range Rover Electric represents a significant step in the brand's electrification strategy. Range Rover, which has been producing luxury SUVs since 1970, is part of the JLR house of brands alongside Defender, Discovery and Jaguar. The company currently offers electric hybrid versions across its entire lineup.

The Range Rover Electric prototypes will continue their testing and development program ahead of client reservations. The company has not yet announced pricing or exact availability dates for the production model.