Electrogenic Has An Easy Way to Make Your Land Rover Defender Electric
It offers better performance figures than a similar diesel-powered Defender
by Alina Moore, on LISTEN 03:06The Land Rover Defender has a very long history. It first arrived in 1983 as the Land Rover 110 and in 1984 the lineup was joined by the Land Rover 90. The model initially replaced the Series III, but the Defender name itself was not used until 1990. With more than 2 million units built (including the original Land Rover Series), the Defender is one of the most appreciated vehicles by British farmers and landowners.
The Defender however is anything but efficient. And today’s main focus is on electricity and fuel-saving technologies. With the gas price skyrocketing, Electrogenic is coming to the rescue of those wanting to electrify their Land Rover Defenders.
What updates does Electrogenic offer for the Defender?
The Ev kit offered by Electrogenic is actually very easy to install - but it must be done by a qualified mechanic in order to benefit from the free maintenance. The new electric motor is bolted to the Defender’s existing clutch bell housing, so the vehicle keeps all its gears. It delivers a total of 120 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. The motor gets its juice from a 52-kWh battery that ensures a range of more than 100 miles during on-road driving conditions and a little bit more when driving off-road or around a farm. The battery can be charged overnight using a Type 2 connector. The electric Defender goes from 0 to 60 mph in 16 seconds and up to a top speed of 90 mph. While it may not look like a lot, a similar-powered diesel Defender goes from 0 to 60 mph in 19 seconds and can only hit 85 mph.
What are the benefits of this conversion?
The most important benefit of this electric update is of course the cost. Tests performed by Electrogenic showed that the electric motor will help save at least £6,000 in fuel costs over the course of an average year of on-farm use. When you consider that the conversion is priced at £24,000, the kit will pay for itself in just four years. Not to mention that Electrogenic announced the electric powertrain is designed to be entirely maintenance-free and the batteries are good for 200,000 miles or more.
But there are a few other benefits to this upgrade. The electric version retains the original Defender’s versatility and four-wheel-drive, but it helps improve both its off-road ability and towing capability thanks to the use of the electric motor. On the list of benefits, Electrogenic also includes reducing carbon emissions and of course no trips to the petrol station. On short trips the SUV is both quiet and efficient, while a diesel engine would be cold and inefficient. And speaking of being quiet, this electric Defender is also great for nipping round behind the cows when you need to move them. The electric motor also helps during cold mornings as it helps the heater to come on instantly.
