British Army to test electric propulsion for Land Rover fleet
Defence company Babcock International has been contracted by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to help the British Army understand the Defence application and constraints of electric propulsion.
The one-year contract will see Babcock partner with Electric Vehicle (EV) developer Electrogenic to convert four in-service military Land Rovers (two protected vehicles and two general service vehicles) from diesel-fueled to electric using a drop-in kit and modified battery system.
Specifically, the conversion will make use of Electrogenic’s standard Land Rover Defender E90 conversion kits.
After conversion, the vehicles will be put to the test by the Armoured Trials and Development Unit (ATDU) in a series of experimental battlefield/military scenarios, which will assess performance over steep terrain, wading and towing and different climate-related conditions.
ATDU corporal Bryan Munce of MOD Bovington, said: “ATDU is supporting Defence to fully realise the strengths and weaknesses of electric vehicle technology. Mobility performance, exportable power, signature and cost reduction are just some of the considerations we will explore while partnering with Electrogenic and Babcock. In understanding what could enable our forces, it also informs MOD of potential threats to be cognizant of, to enhance our strategic approach.”
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In announcing their involvement in the project, Electrogenic co-founder Steve Drummond commented on their core offering for military vehicles as “the ability to have total control over every element of the electric drivetrain. As a result, our EV technology elevates performance to a whole new level – particularly when in adverse conditions and off-road.”
Chris Spicer, Babcock’s managing director of engineering and systems integration – land, said: “This is a great opportunity to investigate alternative engine technology, which will enable the British Army to extend the life of its Land Rovers as diesel becomes obsolete. I’m excited to see how the converted Land Rovers perform in a test environment against diesel and hybrid equivalents.”
Babcock International was awarded the contract by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm for the UK Armed Forces.
The announcement of the contract came two weeks after the UK government proposed policy measures for the country’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, an important step towards putting the phase-out of petrol and diesel cars into law.
The ZEV mandate will set annual sales targets for manufacturers from 2024 to 2030, paving the way for all new car and van sales to be zero emission by 2035.
In 2024, these targets will be 22% for cars and 10% for vans. These targets will be increased to 80% and 70% in 2030 respectively.
The ZEV mandate will apply to all manufacturers responsible for the type-approval of cars or vans registered in the UK, irrespective of the type of approval route.
