JLR Touts Emissions Research Program

At this year’s CENEX Low Carbon Vehicle event, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is unveiling some newly developed powertrain technology concept vehicles.

At the core of these research concepts, nicknamed Concept e, is a new, modular electric drive module (eDM). The module, developed completely by Jaguar Land Rover, is capable of producing twice the power and torque of any electric motor-generator in production today. They can be inserted between any engine and transmission to create different types of hybrid electric vehicles with different types of power generation and distribution arrangements.

The Concept_e technologies are the result of a program, led by Jaguar Land Rover and launched in 2013, to research next-generation hybrid and battery-electric powertrain technologies.

The project receives funding from Innovate UK, a UK Gov’t run agency that fosters science and technology innovations that will grow the UK economy.

Dr. Wolfgang Epple, Director of Research and Technology at JLR, said: "This is a long-term Jaguar Land Rover research project exploring all aspects of future hybrid and battery electric vehicle technology. The three Concept_e vehicles will allow us to test and develop exciting new potential technologies that could form part of our low and zero emissions vision beyond 2020.

According to the Land Rover press release, the three Concept_e research demonstrators include:

• Concept_e MH. The Mild Hybrid is based on a Range Rover Evoque donor vehicle and features a prototype diesel engine (90 PS) and a 48V electrical system. It incorporates a 15 kW crank integrated motor with disconnect clutch within a hybrid module sandwiched between the engine and 9 speed transmission. The motor-generator is powered by an advanced 48-volt electrical system and 48-volt lithium ion battery pack.
• Concept_e PHEV. The Plug-In Hybrid employs a similar architecture to the MHEV but with a prototype petrol engine (300 PS) and 8 speed transmission longitudinally mounted within a Range Rover Sport donor vehicle. The electric motor is capable of up to 150 kW and also takes up the function of the starter motor. The motor draws electrical energy from a 320-volt lithium ion battery packaged in the boot. The hybrid powerplant drives through the conventional automatic gearbox normally fitted to the Range Rover Sport and the full time four-wheel drive system is retained.
• Concept_e BEV is a bespoke research demonstrator based on Jaguar Land Rover's aluminium vehicle architecture. The underbody has been modified to mount the 70 kWh HV lithium ion traction battery and electric axle drive (EAD) units. The front drive unit features a single speed transmission coupled with an 85 kW electric motor. The rear drive unit features a twin speed transmission coupled with a 145 kW electric motor.

Dr. Epple added: "Environmental Innovation is at the heart of our business...Technologies like these have already helped us reduce our fleet CO2 average by 25 per cent in recent years. Whether it's optimizing the internal combustion engine, advanced hybrid and battery-electric propulsion systems, the introduction of new, lightweight materials or the improvement of energy conservation through more efficient heating and ventilation technologies, we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles emit significantly less emissions in the future."