JLR begins work on ‘green’ Evoque project

JAGUAR Land Rover is pioneering a new research and development programme into next generation hybrid and electric powertrains, based around its popular Evoque model.
 
The ‘Evoque_e’ is a two-year £16.3m Technology Strategy Board project.

JLR will contribute £4m and will lead a consortium of 12 selected partners – eight from industry and three universities.
 
The partners include: Zytek Automotive, Staffordshire; Birmingham-based GKN Driveline, Shropshire-based Motor Design, Coventry’s AVL, Drive System Design in Warwickshire, Williams Advanced Engineering in Oxfordshire, Delta Motorsport in Northamptonshire, Tata Steel, Bristol University, Cranfield University and Newcastle University.
 
Starting next month, the collaboration will design, develop and build three research vehicles showcasing state-of-the-art, next-generation powertrain concepts for a mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV); a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and a full battery electric vehicle (BEV).
 
Peter Richings, Jaguar Land Rover’s director of hybrids and electrification, said: “The aim of the project is to develop technology platforms which are configurable and compatible within the architecture of an existing production vehicle. The modular technologies include single and multi-speed axle drives; modular battery packs and integrated power electronics, multi-machine, advanced control development and torque vectoring.
 
“The research teams will look at how the speed of the electric motor can be increased, to reduce its size, weight and cost while enhancing performance and durability. We will also look at the use of alternative materials to both reduce the use of rare earth materials and for systems optimisation. The outcome of the Evoque_e project will be new technologies with the potential for high volume production that are capable of delivering benchmark performance in terms of cost, weight and sustainable use of materials.”