First Electric Defender undergoes real world trial runs at Eden Project

The first Electric Defender has started work at the Eden Project in Cornwall with an inaugural real world trial of its capabilities. Unveiled at this year's Geneva Motor Show, the Land Rover Electric Defender is a pioneering research project into the electrification of an all-terrain vehicle.

The project forms part of Land Rover's overall sustainability objectives, which have included the move to aluminium platforms. The innovative 4x4 is a rolling laboratory to develop new ideas, and investigate electrification in a real world environment. A fleet of six vehicles will be placed with organisations where their performance can be assessed.

The Defender 110 Pick Up badged as 'All terrain Electric Research Vehicle' effortlessly tows the four-carriage 12 tonne road train - which can carry up to 60 passengers - on a six percent incline. The Electric Defender has all the qualities and performance, which have become associated with the Land Rover brand during the past 65 years. .

The vehicle's Hill Descent Control is linked to a regenerative braking function, and overall up to 80 percent of the car's kinetic energy can be recovered. During each downhill trip up to 30kW will be fed back into the batteries. Land Rover's acclaimed Terrain Response system has been adapted for electric drive, offering a 80km range with a reserve of a further 20km.

The result is eight hours of low-speed off-road use, and a charge time of 10 hours for the advanced lithium-ion batteries to be fully charged. 'Fast-charge' technology reducing that to just fours is also possible.

"The car has been modified so it now includes a second battery. That will allow it to work a full day at the Eden Project, but also improves weight distribution and stability. In addition, we've linked the land-train's air brakes to the foot pedal of the Land Rover, enhancing safety," explained Jeremy Greenwood, Principal Engineer on the Electric Defender project.