Just Auto wrote an article on the Landrover trials all-electric Defender which we were incredibly excited about given our interest over the last three years in the zero emissions safari vehicle. Londolozi has been at the forefront of pioneering the first ever Zero Emissions Safari Vehicle. The vision for this vehicle is to run purely on battery power which in turn is charged by solar panels. The carbon output would thus be zero, except for that used during the manufacturing of the vehicle.
Putting the Electric Land Rover to the test – Rich Laburn
Since 2009, when we unveiled our first prototype electric Landrover, the journey has been extremely fun yet also challenging. Our second prototype burnt down soon after completion, owing to an electrical wiring failure. Yet with the help of Anton Komar and Sid from Green Rover we managed to achieve a reasonable level of success with our prototype number 3. This video was filmed in July 2011…
The results of the initial tests of this prototype have been very encouraging. The eerily silent propulsion through the virgin wilderness is almost unnerving until one begins to enjoy a range of new senses and possibilities such as the audible bush ambiance, bird sounds and predator prey alarm and communication calls.
Land Rover’s electric vehicle was developed in conjunction with Barkers Performance products and features a bespoke battery system which incorporates Axeon’s properietary Battery Management System (BMS). This system fits straight into area where the traditional engine would lie and allows for the same maneuverability and ground clearance through rugged terrain.
Underneath the Hood of the Electric Land Rover
Our intention at Londolozi is to continue to be a leader towards a truly Zero Emissions Safari Vehicle and change our entire fleet to electric vehicles as soon as the opportunity presents itself, our vision is to have a full fleet of electric land Rovers by 2015. This initiative, in particular, forms part of our broader goal to dramatically minimize our carbon footprint on the environment. We have come a long way since the prototype in 2011 and we look forward to introducing these landrovers into our fleet…
Photographed and Filmed by Rich Laburn
Click here to read the original article.
Congratulations on this inititive!!!
I’ve been following this project since the beginning and it’s great to see how fast technology and knowledge managed to give you a Land Rover capable of dealing with the bush. I’m excited to hear about it again in the soon future!
Brilliant!
This is an application for EV’s that is past due. My wife and I are living with electric transport (Zero motorcycle and Nissan Leaf) in Los Angeles, and have thought the quiet safari should be an option when we go to Africa. We are planning a trip for late 2013, is this an option to go on a drive now, or is it still test phase only? Perhaps I could at least come by and see it? We will be in Kruger for a couple weeks. Either way, great work!
Hi Eric,
We will not have one of the prototypes on property over that time as Landrover are still busy ironing out some of the minor details that we found in the last one. We will be sure to post a blog on the next vehicle that we test.
Thanks,
Kate
Way to go! Looking forward to a ride in this Electric Land Rover some day soon!
wonderful, much better for the environment.
Fast enough for Wild Dog chase? 🙂
Stoffie are you sure Anton Komar isn’t your father?
This is the future! Will be easier to hear the alarm sounds in the bush!
Hi! This is exciting, though for Swedish green Motorists I would love to have more technical details than what is provided here. Where can I find it?
Further: Am I right in understanding that you are currently not using the EV?
All the best!
Hope to experience this new vehicle during our next visit ! Great stuff……..
Wonderful, But I’m just wondering. How far does it go then with one “fillig” and 12 people aboard? Interresting. Anything else changed? Gearbox? Drive train changes?