Author:
ROBIN ROBERTS
Jaguar Land Rover showed the ultra-low carbon XJ_e plug-in hybrid engineering research vehicle at the Goodwood Festival of Speed at the weekend.
The XJ_e demonstrates how an advanced parallel plug-in hybrid design can deliver reductions in CO2 emissions of over 70 percent, without compromising vehicle performance.
It uses the 237bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine from the Range Rover Evoque in place of the usual 5.0-litre V8 petrol unit and is mated to a special eight-speed automatic transmission and hybrid system consisting of a 93bhp electric motor and a 12.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Capable of 0—100km/h (62mph) in under 6.5 seconds and with a limited top speed of 250km/h (150mph), the XJ_e achieves CO2 emissions of less than 75g/km and a zero-emission range of 40km (25 miles) on electric power and its combined modes means it can give the equivalent of 87mpg.
The innovative XJ_e project was created by JLR as part of its strategy to develop best-in-class low-carbon premium products, and follows other successful hybrid research demonstrators including the Limo Green and Range_e vehicles.
Part funded by the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board through the REEVolution project, this advanced research vehicle has been engineered in partnership with leading UK technology companies to help develop expertise for ultra-low carbon vehicles within the supply chain.
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