By Staff Reporter

Jaguar Land Rover has expanded its electrified line-up with a new three-cylinder plug-in hybrid offering. The solution powers off in the Discovery Sport and the Range Rover Evoque.

1.5 litre Plug-in Hybrids

The three cylinder plug-in hybrid solution combines a 147kW engine and an 80kW electric motor. This means low CO2 of 32g/km on the Evoque and 36g/km on the Discovery Sport. Additionally, both vehicles have an impressive all-electric, zero tailpipe emission range of 66km and 62km, respectively. The new 1,5 litre plug-in Ingenium petrol engine is said to be 37kg lighter than the four-cylinder version. Fuel economy is rated at as little as 1.4 litres per 100km, depending on model, thanks to its hybrid electric technology.

Charging

Land Rover says battery charging is made as easy as possible, whether the vehicle is on the move or plugged in. While being driven, energy generated by the engine during acceleration, or by braking in electric or hybrid mode, is harvested and used to charge the battery. When plug-in charging is required, the 15kWh battery can be powered up from zero to 80 per cent in as little as 30 minutes using a public rapid charger. It takes between 1 hour and 24 minutes and 6 hours 42 minutes at home, depending on whether the car is plugged into a dedicated wall box or typical domestic electricity supply.

SA availability

The Sword from Land Rover South Africa about availability is that the South African introductions of the plug-in hybrid Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport are unconfirmed. More information will follow in due course.