The conversion kit, aimed at the agricultural sector and landowners, has been in development and extensively tested over the past 18 months on Worthy Farm, which hosts the Glastonbury Festival.
It is designed to be installed by a suitably qualified mechanic and to be maintenance free. An electric motor is bolted to the Defender’s existing clutch bell housing, so the vehicle retains its gears. It packs 120bhp and 235Nm of torque, Electrogenic confirmed, comparable power and torque to the original diesel engine.
52kWh of batteries are mounted under the bonnet to give 100+ miles of range on-road and more when driving off-road or around a farm. As standard, the kit is equipped for 5.5kW AC overnight charging via a Type 2 connector, with faster charging available as an optional extra.
Electrogenic conversions retain the original Defender’s versatility and four-wheel drive whilst improving off-road ability by fitment of the electric motor, the EV company said. Describing it as ‘effortless to drive, even in demanding off-road scenarios’, the company said the electric motor’s instant torque also enhances towing capability while dual-stage, regenerative braking enables ultra-controlled, brake-free off-road descents.
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Steve Drummond, Electrogenic co-founder said that the kit is an exciting development for the company.
“We do high-specification conversions for road-warriors, but this kit is all about giving landowners an economic, sustainable option,” he said. “It’s easy to install and uses Electrogenic’s proprietary technology. It gives Land Rover Defenders – long a trusty workhorse for farms up and down the country – an affordable new lease of life, reducing running costs while enhancing performance and driveability around the estate.”
Drummond added that following an extensive development programme in partnership with Cardiff University, Electrogenic is confident that the tech ‘future-proofs’ the traditional Defender, readying it for ‘decades of reliable, sustainable service as we enter the age of low-carbon agriculture’.
Having tested the electrified Defender alongside its diesel-powered counterparts, Electrogenic estimates that the electric version will save at least £6,000 in fuel costs over the course of an average year of on-farm use. The EV conversion has a target price of £24,000 + VAT.
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