‘Big Red’ dune no match for Range Rover Electric prototype

As part of its hot weather testing programme, Range Rover Electric prototypes have ascended the ‘Big Red’ dune in the Al Badayer desert of the Sharjah region in the United Arab Emirates.

The 100-metre dune is the UAE’s most incredible desert hill climb, says JLR. 

All Range Rover prototype vehicles must complete the ascent five times without showing any reduction in performance before proceeding to the next testing stage. 

JLR says vehicle performance and efficiency are fiercely challenged to ensure the propulsion system is reliably temperature-controlled and built to support longevity and optimum range.

The Range Rover intelligent thermal management system is subjected to arduous testing in temperatures of 50C and up to 90% humidity. 

JLR says the Range Rover Electric surpassed the thermal testing performance of any previous model on the sand. Exemplary thermal performance was maintained continuously throughout intensive, prolonged desert driving.

“A hot climate is one of the most challenging for any battery electric vehicle, because of the need to cool the cabin and optimise battery performance simultaneously. The additional challenge of driving on sand requires controlled low-speed torque, so our specially developed traction control and thermal management systems work harmoniously to ensure power delivery is unaffected,” says JLR product engineering executive director Thomas Müller. 

“Our tests have shown that in this climate, repeatedly driving the equivalent of 100 metres uphill on fine sand, Range Rover Electric matches the performance of its ICE equivalents, in some instances, even surpassing them – thanks to introducing these new features,” he says. 

The Range Rover Electric’s new Intelligent Torque Management system distributes the wheel slip management task directly to each electric drive control unit. This reduces the torque reaction time at each wheel from around 100 milliseconds to as little as one milliseconds, offering improved traction control while driving on fine sand.

JLR continues to refine the Range Rover Electric before welcoming client reservations in 2025.