Range Rover Evoque concepts show off electric tech

Mike Richardson, chief technology specialist of low-carbon vehicles at JLR, said the Evoque E project looked at a whole host of technologies including brake by wire, torque vectoring, battery packaging and drivelines, along with the integration of all these systems in the vehicle. "It looks beyond what we know today," he said.

JLR insists the three cars are merely test prototypes and has not yet revealed any performance details. Any production cars that arise from the testing are unlikely to go on sale before 2020.

The company has also shown off research that it calls its ‘Warm Air Blanket’. This technology aims to reduce the energy used by a car, by improving the heating and ventilation systems among other things.

JLR is looking at using infra-red reflective glass that reflects the suns rays so less energy is needed to cool the interior. JLR also says it might not even need to heat the whole cabin in the future and is investigating technology that would just heat the occupant through the use of infra-red panels embedded in the sun visors, the tops of the doors and places such as the transmission tunnel.

The company has also developed a 99g/km version of the Evoque called 'Provoque'. It mixes a 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engine with a 48V mild hybrid system. The engine features an electric supercharger driven by an electric motor that allows high amounts of torque at a low rpm.

JLR's director of research and technology Wolfgang Epple said the firm had been on a multi-billion pound programme to reduce its CO2 footprint while ensuring its cars retained their luxury, performance, refinement and comfort since 2008.

JLR has cut CO2 emissions by 25% since 2007. Epple said JLR was "researching a range of technologies" to reduce this further, as there was "no single solution".

"We are very serious about battery electric vehicles and plug ins," he said. "The UK can be a world leader in these technologies. It will always remain about customers and driving though, the desire to drive will not disappear."

JLR is also working on developing autonomous vehicles, Epple confirmed.

Epple called on the government to continue to offer subsidies to support the uptake of low-CO2 vehicles and said the current demonisation of diesel was wrong, as the new EU6-compliant engines are very clean and efficient. 

He also revealed that the new Ingenium engine family was future-proofed to be up or downscaled depending on demand, and it was adaptable to fit in with any future propulsion tech JLR might develop.

On the future of electrification, Epple said: "Electrification is essential in the premium market for getting below 100g/km. It can't just be about the propulsion system, it must look at parasitic losses [aerodynamics, rolling resistance, energy management, climate control] and weight [architecture, body in white, chassis parts, material application] also.

"We are looking at how to mix carbonfibre with innovative materials and how to manufacturer it at a more affordable price."

Simon Black, senior manager of body engineering at JLR, also revealed a whole range of supporting technologies in the Evoque E project designed at reducing the weight of the vehicle.

'Carbio' is a lightweight material that mixes carbonfibre with cashew nut oil resin and flax to create a material that has the strength of carbonfibre but is cheaper to create (but not manufacture). It also has a lower CO2 footprint to produce. It's 28% lighter than aluminium, 55% lighter than steel and has better sound-proofing qualities than carbonfibre. This in turn further reduces vehicle weight as less sound deadening is needed.

'Varcity' is a lower grade of carbonfibre similar to that used in wind turbines rather than in F1 or aerospace. JLR is looking at how to mix it into bodies, with a target weight reduction of 20% over a pure aluminium structure. It was first explored on the C-X75 concept.

'LANDS' is a lighter sound-deadening material made from recycled plastic and filler made from the sugar refining process. Used in wheelarches, it is as good at deadening sound as existing materials but lighter.

Traditional wiring looms could be replaced by 'printed electronics', which are smaller, lighter and more space efficient. They would improve cabin space and also reduce weight. In a Range Rover, there is 6km of wiring, weighing 94kg.