Diesel Hybrids On The Horizon
Land Rover’s engineers are now conducting real-world tests with some ground-breaking Diesel ERAD Hybrid vehicles, aimed
at dramatically cutting CO2 and other emissions while still delivering characteristic Land Rover all-terrain
performance.
These engineering ‘mules’ are based on Freelander 2 vehicles, but the technology is designed to be scalable and modular,
so could be applied across a variety of Land Rover models and power trains.
This programme is one of a broad range of sustainability-focused engineering programmes that Land Rover is pursuing,
brought together by the company under the collective name e_TERRAIN TECHNOLOGIES.
In addition to these Diesel ERAD Hybrids, Land Rover is developing a range of other emissions-busting and fuel-saving
technologies that will start appearing on its production vehicles from now and over the next decade.
These range from a stop-start function, to other advanced hybrid systems and lightweight vehicle architectures.
“Our innovative ERAD technology featured in the LRX concept car unveiled earlier this year, and we’re now starting to
deliver on our sustainability commitments with full, on-road prototypes,” says Phil Popham, Land Rover’s Managing
Director. “These Diesel ERAD Hybrids mark a crucial point for Land Rover, where engineering concept is seen to become
reality and our vehicles start to combine their formidable all-terrain capability with our radical new e_TERRAIN
TECHNOLOGIES.”
Land Rover’s Diesel ERAD Hybrid was developed as part of a multi-million-pound project supported by the UK Government’s
Energy Saving Trust, under the low carbon research and development programme. The objective is to develop a ‘parallel’
hybrid drive system compatible with all-terrain four-wheel-drive capability.
As parallel hybrids, the vehicles can be driven solely by electric power or by the diesel engine, or by a combination of
both. The system is designed to reduce CO2 by more than 20 per cent under the NEDC test cycle and to cut it by a
substantial 30 per cent in ‘real-life’ urban conditions where hybrid technologies really come into their own.
Under many circumstances, today’s generation of petrol electric hybrids are little more efficient than the best modern
diesel engines without hybrid technology. So Land Rover’s ambition is to add the benefits of a full hybrid system to
modern, clean and efficient diesel power trains, giving a win-win situation.
To help deliver this, Land Rover has developed its own, unique Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) system, which actually
has the potential to enhance the vehicle’s all-terrain capability.
ENDS