Range Rover EV tested in Middle East desert

RANGE ROVER is testing prototypes of its first electric vehicle in the harsh deserts of the United Arab Emirates, following previous testing in the Arctic Circle, to assess its durability and performance off-road.

Having confirmed the prototype’s cold-weather suitability on -40C degree frozen lakes around Sweden, Range Rover has now taken to the searing 50C degree deserts of the Middle East to ensure its first electric vehicle is capable in the harshest of extremes.

The tortuous soft sand work also validated Range Rover’s new Intelligent Torque Management system, which monitors wheel slip and adjusts torque reaction time at each wheel in between one and 100 milliseconds.

The prototype vehicles also feature Range Rover’s new thermal management system that it says controls heat distribution across the entire vehicle – and where better to test its thermal efficiency.

According to Range Rover its EV prototypes surpassed the thermal testing performance of any of its other models in soft sand, suggesting the brand is building its first electric model to be used as a proper off-roader.

The EV prototype even conquered the 100m Big Red dune in the Al Badayer desert outside of Dubai, with Range Rover claiming that it completed the climb “with flying colours”.

Yes, the same Big Red you may have seen modified Nissan Patrols and sand buggies attempt on YouTube – with many serious off-road vehicles falling victim to the saffron-stained sand dune.

“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,” said Jaguar Land Rover executive director of product engineering Thomas Müller.

“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.”

The Range Rover Electric is one step closer, ahead of its 2025 launch.

Pricing and specifications for the brand’s first electric vehicle are not yet known, however JLR has told media the model will eventually make its way to Australia.