JLR has introduced its latest Future Energy Lab, an electric vehicle (EV) testing centre valued at £250 million, anticipating releasing nine all-electric luxury models by 2030.
The British luxury car manufacturer is gearing up to introduce nine all-electric models by 2030 and has recently showcased its EV testing facility at its Whitley Engineering Centre. This facility will expedite the testing of electric vehicles, encompassing electric test rigs, Electric Drive Unit production, and electric vehicle system test cells.
As the company readies to roll out nine electric luxury models by the end of the decade, this 323,000 square-foot facility located in Coventry, UK, is equipped with over £40 million in technological advancements. This will streamline the testing process for electric vehicles, including the manufacturing of Electric Drive Units and the testing of electric vehicle systems. The facility boasts extreme-weather climate chambers that can replicate conditions ranging from -40°C to 55°C. As part of JLR’s £15 billion commitment to electrify its luxury lineup in the coming five years, this facility will substantially augment JLR’s testing and development capabilities. This expansion will facilitate the sustainable growth of their upcoming EVs and diminish the necessity for transportation to other global testing sites during the R&D phase.
By enhancing its in-house testing capabilities, JLR is also reducing both the costs and emissions linked to transporting prototype vehicles globally for evaluations.
The facility is already home to over 200 EV engineers, and an additional 150 positions are expected to be added, significantly boosting the local job market.
Owned by Tata Motors, JLR is set to invest an additional £22 million in the upcoming year to refine the Coventry location further.
JLR’s forthcoming electric vehicle, the contemporary luxury Range Rover BEV, is currently undergoing extensive testing at this facility. The Electric Drive Units for this model are being conceptualized, crafted, and assessed by JLR engineers stationed at Whitley. This vehicle is slated for release in the coming year.
