Electrogenic Full EV conversion for agricultural Defenders

New low-cost Defender EV conversion from Electrogenic is aimed at landowners and agriculturalists

ELECTRIC LAND ROVER DEFENDERS are big news – and they normally come with even bigger prices. But Oxfordshire company Electrogenic says its new drop-in conversion kit can pay for itself in four years of typical use – then play its part in keeping the vehicle healthy well into the future.

The conversion, which was developed in partnership with automotive experts at Cardiff University, comes as a kit designed to be installed by a qualifi ed mechanic. It includes an electric motor developing 120bhp and 173lbf.ft – roughly comparable fi gures to the Tdi and Td5 engines in most Defenders whose age now might make them suitable candidates for the work. A 52kWh battery pack is installed under the bonnet, which Electrogenic says will allow ‘100-plus miles of range on-road and considerably more when driving off-road or around a farm.’

As this suggests, the kit is aimed at a very different kind of Land Rover to the millionaires’ lifestyle machines most normally associated with electric conversions. Electrogenic says it is intended for the agricultural sector, with 18 months of testing having recently been completed at Worthy Farm, home of the famous Glastonbury Festival – where, coincidentally, Greta Thunberg recently made a surprise appearance in her ongoing campaign for sustainable living.

The Electrogenic kit comes equipped as standard for 7.5kW AC overnight charging via a Type 2 connector, however a faster set-up can be specifi ed as an optional extra.

Very unusually for an EV, Defenders equipped with this kit retain their original manual gearbox. The motor is bolted to the existing clutch bellhousing so all fi ve gears remain, as of course does reverse – as well as the full-time four-wheel drive and high and low range provided by the transfer case behind it.

‘Off-road ability is improved by the fi tment of the electric motor,’ says Electrogenic. ‘With readily accessible torque and linear power delivery, it is effortless to drive even in demanding off-road scenarios. Dual-stage regenerative braking enables ultra-controlled, brake-free off-road descents.

‘Towing capability is also enhanced by the electric motor’s instant and abundant torque.’

Following its year and a half of testing about a number of 90s and 110s at Worthy Farm, Electrogenic estimates that the conversion can be worth ‘at least £6000 in fuel costs over the course of an average year of on-farm use.’ The powertrain is also designed to be 100% maintenance-free, meaning further savings on servicing costs (as well as the associated down-time) – so with a target price of £24,000 plus VAT, the conversion can pay for itself in less than four years.

‘The electric powertrain is designed to… operate happily for decades,’ continues Electrogenic, ‘while the batteries are similarly robust: good for 200,000 miles or more, giving owners total peace of mind.’ Company co-founder Steve Drummond also points out the benefi ts of instant heat on cold mornings and time saved on regular trips to fi ll up with fuel – and that removing diesel from a farm’s fl eet can help it meet its sustainability targets.

‘This new electric conversion kit is a really exciting development for us,’ commented Drummond. ‘We do high-specifi cation conversions for road-warriors, but this kit is all about giving landowners an economic, sustainable option. It’s easy to install and uses Electrogenic’s proprietary technology.

‘It gives Land Rover Defenders an affordable new lease of life, reducing running costs while enhancing performance and drivability around the estate. It future-proofs the traditional Defender, readying it for decades of reliable, sustainable service as we enter the age of low-carbon agriculture.’

Electric vehicles have often tended to post poorer towing limits than the traditionally engined equivalent. However Electrogenic says the ‘instant and abundant’ torque from its conversion will positively enhance the Defender’s abilitity in front of a trailer

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