Coming Soon: An Electric Range Rover
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May 27, 2008
The cars will travel 200 miles before needing a recharge, although on-board generators can extend the range.
For Range Rover owners, the costs include the car’s price tag of up to £72,995, plus an astronomical fuel bill of almost £3,300 per 12,000 miles.
Also, the car pollutes a great deal more than most: the fanciest Range Rover is unlikely to achieve much more than 13 miles per gallon in town, or CO2 Emissions worth 352 grams per kilometre.
All this is set to change however.
An electric-powered Range Rover is being developed for drivers prepared to pay up to £125,000 to reduce their carbon footprint.
Barry Shrier, Liberty founder and CEO says; “The Liberty Electric Range Rover takes electric vehicle technology into a new sector, to large luxury cars that people aspire to drive, particularly in cities and urban environments where environmental controls are becoming increasingly tighter.
“The Liberty Electric Range Rover will drive cleanly and quietly around roads and cities, free of tax, congestion and parking charges, making less environmental impact than even the smallest, most fuel efficient car, yet still offering the comfort and security of a luxury 4 x 4.”
The Liberty Range Rover is described as ‘able to power its way through 200 miles before needing a charge, and some models will carry on board range extending generators.’
The real shock comes not from the performance or range, but the price. While the electricity used to power the electric Range Rover might cost pennies-per-mile, the cost of entry is going to be somewhere near a whopping $190,000 to $250,000. Shrier’s not worried though, he’s targeting London’s early adopting elite as his initial customer base. He then claims sales of the first few years’ products will then fund the development of more affordable models.
Liberty is planning the electric Range Rover independently of Solihull-based Land Rover, which is currently working on its own plans for electric and electric-diesel hybrid powertrains.
The Oxford company will buy Range Rovers in the retail market, strip out the engines and gearboxes (which will be recycled) before retro-fitting its own zero emission technology.
Mr Shrier is holding out the prospect of expanding Liberty’s operations globally and of eventually converting thousands of taxis in smog-bound conurbations such as Mexico City to electric power.
A taxi driver currently spending £200 a week on diesel could in future be recharging his vehicle for just £40 a week.
