U.Okay.-based Bedeo is launching a Land Rover Defender EV conversion based mostly round in-wheel motors from Bedeo-owned Protean Electrical.
The Defender is the primary in a sequence of “Reborn Electrical: Icons” conversions, in accordance with a Bedeo press launch. This system will increase the corporate past its present enterprise of electrical van conversions to the burgeoning cottage business of electrified traditional vehicles—and, maybe, to extra contracts to provide its in-wheel motor tech.
Land Rover Defender EV conversion by Protean
The primary accomplished Defender EV has a 75-kwh battery pack affording 153 miles of WLTP vary—probably within the neighborhood of simply 110 to 125 miles if it have been to be run in EPA-cycle exams. An ordinary 22-kw AC onboard charger can recharge the pack in an estimated 5 hours, whereas non-obligatory DC quick charging can do the identical in 90 minutes (probably much less time for the extra typical 80% cost).
Bedeo claims it is “dedicated” to sustaining the unique curb weight and driving dynamics with every of those builds, achieved partially via “some great benefits of weight discount and engineering enhancements” of in-wheel motors. The corporate did not reveal the curb weight of this instance.
Whereas quite a few firms and DIYers are already changing older internal-combustion automobiles to electrical energy, Bedeo additionally claims to be the primary to make use of in-wheel motors in such a conversion.
Protean in-wheel electrical motor
Protean has had a manufacturing in-wheel motor for greater than a decade. Previous to its present U.Okay. possession, the now-defunct Chinese language-funded automaker NEVS, which had been transforming a few of Saab’s belongings, purchased Protean in 2019.
Since then, Dongfeng, a Chinese language automaker with a Volkswagen three way partnership—has sourced Protean motors for its Fengshen E70 sedan. Dongfeng claims to have the world’s first passenger automotive to be homologated on the market with in-wheel motors, however the Lordstown Endurance pickup truck beforehand used them as properly, sourced from Elaphe. Only a few Endurance vehicles have been constructed, nevertheless.