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Thread: Electric Defender on Fifth Gear

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    Electric Defender on Fifth Gear

    The latest episode of Fifth Gear in the UK has a story on the prototype electric Defender. The episode is sure to come up on Youtube soon as all other episodes in the current series appear to be there for viewing.

    Not a huge amout of info but some nice shots of the Solihull Land Rover Experience track. Only 100km range off a single charge so it's a fair way off being viable... unless they could come up with an effective solar fast-charger, then we would be set here in Aus. Instant 100% application of torque and no need for any gears are nice features though. Also 800mm wading depth due to no air intake which is deeper than a standard Deefer.

    There is also an interesting 2nd hand comparison story later in the episode. A beat-up old Defender vs 1990s era G-Wagen vs Hummer H2?!?


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    There's something about that show I just can't watch it

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    You have to wonder why when a diesel defender will probably get better range/ economy and then when you take into account the cost of the batteries and then recharge costs still come out in front with diesel.
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    Quote Originally Posted by 460cixy View Post
    There's something about that show I just can't watch it
    I think you need to keep reminding yourself that it's not Top Gear.

    Quote Originally Posted by loanrangie View Post
    You have to wonder why when a diesel defender will probably get better range/ economy and then when you take into account the cost of the batteries and then recharge costs still come out in front with diesel.
    And why are they prototyping using a current model Defender as a platform when it's due to be killed off?

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    Quote Originally Posted by solmanic View Post
    I think you need to keep reminding yourself that it's not Top Gear.

    I know I keep expecting it to be awesome then walk away disappointed

    And why are they prototyping using a current model Defender as a platform when it's due to be killed off?
    I recon the whole thing is a bit of a wast. But it most likely makes a good test bed all the same

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    Isn't the hole on the back of the LT230 ripe for fitting a traction motor?

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    Electric! Wading depth = going into water!

    It's a Land Rover for the Good Lord Harry's sake.

    What dill thought this was a good idea?

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    Quote Originally Posted by shorty943 View Post
    Electric! Wading depth = going into water!

    It's a Land Rover for the Good Lord Harry's sake.

    What dill thought this was a good idea?
    Yeah, but I heard it has an upgraded Lucas smoke installation.

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    Actually JLR are up there as world leaders on this,they have a technical partnership with the Willians F1 team,they have made a prototype Jaguar with a turbo 4 cylinder petrol engine that hits 10500 rpm mated to two axial thrust traction motors,they produce almost 200bhp but only wieght 30kgs each and the whole lot sits in a carbon fibre tub with an alloy body to keep the rain out.If you do some searching JLR are into some very cool stuff,their new engine plant will produce engines that Williams helped develope and this defender is nothing more than a test mule,it's nothing more and they used it because they have heaps of room.I would love to see a defender with traction motors on each corner with a small lean TD under the bonnet,a third of the wieght and half the parts and four wheels able to work independant of each other,it would be a cool weapon. Pat

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    All that tech that posters above talk about is cool, but having each wheel with an independent traction motor is a great way to lose traction. Hence diff locks have become prevalent... Only way to overcome that is to have 100HP or so motors on each corner, and there goes your power reserve....

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