Classic British Army Land Rovers Replacing Diesel Engines With Electric Powertrains

Like the rest of the world, the British Army is set to begin its transition to electric mobility with four converted electric Land Rover military models. To help make the transition easier, defense company Babcock International has received a one-year contract from the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The British Army will be assisted in getting to grips with electric propulsion and its potential constraints.

Babcock will partner with EV experts Electrogenic to convert the diesel-powered Land Rover models. Already, Electrogenic has demonstrated its expertise by engineering an electric version of a classic Porsche 911. Of course, the demands of the British Army's vehicles will be a different project altogether, but Electrogenic has extensive experience converting Land Rover Defender SUVs to EVs, too.

The four in-service Land Rovers - two protected vehicles and two general services ones - will be converted using a drop-in kit and a modified battery system, but the real hard work begins after that. Once running on electric power, the Land Rovers will be handed over to the Armored Trials and Development Unit (ATDU) to place them in several typical military and battlefield scenarios. That will include testing the vehicle's abilities in wading and towing, how it copes with steep terrain, and its performance in different climates.

"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," said Chris Spicer from Babcock. "I'm excited to see how the converted Land Rovers perform in a test environment against diesel and hybrid equivalents."

The electric Land Rovers will help the MOD prepare to transition to electric vehicles in 2030, with a greater goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.