 |
| The new E-Type Zero is a faster than the original. |
JAGUAR has joined the list of carmakers who are planning to sell
all-electric or hybrid fuel/electric vehicles in the next few years.
Speaking at the first Tech Fest, a free public exhibition about the
future of mobility, Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover chief executive officer,
said all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will “be electrified” from 2020.
“We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our
model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles.
Our first fully electric performance SUV, the Jaguar I-PACE, goes on sale next
year,” Speth said.
While 2020 will be earlier than BMW’s date for plug-in cars, the
Bavarian carmaker plans more all-electric cars than Jaguar.
BMW said it will have 12 all-electrified cars by 2025, and another
13 hybrids.
To power these cars BMW is developing all-solid-state batteries,
with the aim for mass production in the next 10 years.
Solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes rather than liquid
ones, making them safer than the lithium-ion batteries currently used by most
electric cars and a lot quicker to recharge.
Toyota is also working on solid-state batteries, but the world’s
top car seller said it will meanwhile be mass-producing electric cars for the
Chinese market in China from 2019, which is also when all Volvo car models will
be either electric or hybrid.
Volvo said it has plans for five all-electric cars between 2019 and
2021, working closely with Volvo owner Geely.
But back to Jaguar. Two of the models shown at the Tech Fest were
the Future-Type concept and a stunning all-electric E-Type.
JLR Classic, the division of Jaguar Land Rover aimed specifically
at its historic side, in aiding or conducting restorations and limited
reproductions of past vehicles.
Fans of a howling V6 who are against all this electricifation at
Jaguar “because they will just issue an electric whine or at best, growl”, told
Wheels the name for E-type remake —
the Zero — is rather apt.
Yet the E-type Zero features a 220 kW powertrain with a 40 kWh
lithium-ion battery pack that propels the vehicle from 0-100 km/h in just 5,5
seconds — a full second faster than the original E-type.
This powertrain is a modified version of what’s found in Jaguar’s
upcoming I-Pace production electric and offers a range of about 270 km per six
to seven-hour charge hour from most 220 V charging stations.
Nor does the electricifation stop there. Fans who miss the Land
Rover Defender and cannot afford the R800+ price tags for mint condition old
Defenders can look forward to the all-electric Defender look-alike by American
company Bollinger.
Bollinger Motors call their Defender copy a no-nonsense
back-to-basics all-electric sport utility truck, but the interior is a lot more
comfortable than the legendary cramped confines of the original Defender.
Charge time 100 kWh (from fully depleted) Level 2 (220 V): 12
hours.
The New York company offers their Defender knockoff models ranging
in size from a short-wheel-base to a four-door version.
Like all electric cars, the Bollinger interpretation of the old
Defender is no slouch, doing the 0-100 km/ run in under five seconds, with a top
speed of 204 km/h, thanks to motors on the front and rear axles, powered by
either a to 60 kWh or 100 kWh lithium ion battery pack.
