Range Rover: Ice dancing with the E-Range Rover
FIRST PROTOTYPES Test drives are currently taking place with the development vehicles of the new Range Rover Electric. During the calibration drives in the cold belt at the Arctic Circle, the beefy Range Rover shows off its uncamouflaged exterior.
With its electric drive, the Range Rover Electric will set new standards for luxury travel. These days, the first prototypes are on the road for demanding tests - at locations all over the world. The all-electric drivetrain is being put through its paces in extreme temperatures. From minus 40 degrees Celsius in the Arctic Circle to plus 50 degrees Celsius in the Middle East.
New traction control
In the extreme sub-zero temperatures, the tests focus on the performance of the battery and the electric drive unit. This includes the transmission, the electric motor and the power electronics. Tests on the frozen lakes of Sweden have shown that the new, in-house developed all-electric drive unit surpasses the already known performance on grippy surfaces while ensuring that the all-terrain and all-weather capabilities remain perfect on any surface.
For the first time on a Range Rover, a new type of traction control ensures outstanding driving characteristics on icy or slippery surfaces. Instead of a conventional traction control system, the Range Rover Electric distributes the task of traction control directly to each individual electric drive control unit.
The software enables precise speed control of the electric drive unit to precisely regulate wheel slip and reduce the need for ABS intervention.
Even more sophisticated
Thomas Müller, Executive Director Product Engineering, says: "Range Rover with electric drive means the luxury, refinement and performance you expect from Range Rover plus the near-silent electric drive - for effortlessly smooth and relaxed travel. To ensure the high quality and exacting electrical parameters, we have implemented an extensive testing and development program and pushed the Range Rover Electric to the limit. This is how we ensure that the car's capabilities remain unparalleled."
