If yesterdays’ Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 was a less than successful attempt at a diesel hybrid then maybe this experimental Range Rover is a more realistic interpretation of similar technology.
Based on a current generation Range Rover Sport it is powered by a 242 bhp three-litre V-6 diesel mated to ZF’s eight-speed automatic and a 69 kW electric motor with the batteries – Land Rover has yet to determine what type they will be for production is yet to be finalized.
Using a parallel hybrid system, with a 14.2k W/h lithium-ion battery that can be recharged from an external 240V power source, Range_e can be driven on electric power alone for more than 20 miles.
Overall CO2 emissions are just 89 g/km, yet Range_e has a maximum system output of 334 bhp and a top speed of around 120 mph, delivering a fuel economy of 70 U.S. mpg.
Range_e is also engineered with the same full 4WD capability as the standard Range Rover Sport, with high and low range in the transmission, front and rear differentials and a mechanical locking center differential. Dependant on the driver demand, the car’s intelligent system decides the most efficient method to deliver the power required, whether this is by electric, diesel or both. The Range_e also features regenerative braking to capture energy usually wasted in heat energy via the brakes.
Driving one the day after the Peugeot it was immediately apparent this was a more highly developed and sophisticated hybrid: it was easy to maintain electric mode at low speeds but there was also a seamless switch to diesel under acceleration.
However, as one of the Range_e engineers pointed out to me the case for a diesel hybrid in an SUV such as this is easier to make on a number of counts: the higher purchase price means the additional cost of the battery and electric motors is a smaller percentage than it is in the 3008’s lower sticker price. Secondly, being a bigger vehicle it also means that the additional weight of the batteries is less obvious. It also has to be remembered that the next generation Range Rover will have an aluminium intensive structure which will help to offset the extra pounds the batteries add to the overall weight.
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