Range Rover Electric prototypes are currently in one of the world’s most unforgiving climates, undergoing the most intensive testing any Range Rover has ever endured.
As part of the gruelling development of the first all‑electric Range Rover, the United Arab Emirates is the proving ground for a searing desert assessment. Vehicle performance and efficiency are fiercely challenged to ensure the entire propulsion system is reliably temperature‑controlled and built to support longevity and optimum range.
According to the British automaker, Range Rover Electric delivers impressive efficiency, surpassing the thermal testing performance recorded of any Range Rover on sand. Defying all limitations, exemplary thermal performance was maintained continuously throughout intensive, prolonged desert driving.
“A hot climate is one of the most challenging for any battery electric vehicle, because of the need to cool the cabin and optimise battery performance at the same time. The additional challenge of driving on sand requires controlled low‑speed torque, so our specially developed traction control and thermal management systems work in harmony to ensure power delivery is unaffected. Our tests have shown that in this climate, repeatedly driving the equivalent of 100 metres uphill on fine sand, Range Rover Electric matches the performance of its ICE equivalents; in some instances, even surpassing them – thanks to the introduction of these new features,” says Thomas Müller Executive director, product engineering
Well‑balanced weight distribution and an advanced suspension system maintain control and stability effortlessly through the sand, performing with ultimate composure. Uncompromised traction systems provide instant torque allowing for quick acceleration, responsiveness and a refined drive even when navigating diverse dune formations.
Range Rover Electric’s new Intelligent Torque Management system distributes the wheel slip management task directly to each individual electric drive control unit, reducing the torque reaction time at each wheel from around 100 milliseconds, to as little as 1 millisecond, offering improved traction control while driving on fine sand.
Range Rover Electric excels through this significant stage of development. Preparations continue to refine and craft the epitome of Range Rover luxury ahead of welcoming client reservations in 2025.