JLR opens e-mobility research center

Jaguar Land Rover electric vehicles are undergoing various tests in a facility covering an area of ​​approximately 30,000 square metres. (Image: JLR)

The new facility in Coventry, UK, covers a total area of ​​30,000 square metres. Among the components Future Energy Laboratory It includes test benches for electric vehicles, production of electric motors and test cells for electric vehicle systems. Several cold rooms It also allows the car manufacturer to simulate extreme weather conditions ranging from minus 40 to minus 55 degrees Celsius. The new plant is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s electrification strategy, with the manufacturer investing a total of around £15 billion. A further £22 million is due to be invested in the Coventry site next year.

“Our Whitley site is at the heart of Jaguar Land Rover and is a pioneering operation in the region. The test facility will be a key part of our path towards an all-electric future.says Oliver Boakes, Chief Propulsion Test Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover. Through the test center, the manufacturer hopes, among other things, to reduce the costs and emissions associated with transporting fleets of prototypes around the world for testing purposes.

According to the manufacturer, more than 200 electric vehicle engineers are currently working at the new facility, and another 150 will follow. Among other things, there will be a fully electric Range Rover, which will go on sale next year “Hundreds of thousands of hours of testing” Passed the new test benches. A central role in the development of electric drive units is also played by the new test laboratory, which is also located at the Whitley Engineering Centre.