The Defender EV is no longer part of the current generation’s lineup

The current platform (L663) on which Defender got its heritage identity and an iconic SUV status, will not get an EV powertrain. The current Defender’s platform is having issues and difficulties for installing the EV batteries, as due to the old platform and heavy weight, Landrover is finding difficulties to attach the battery.

For EV and Defender enthusiasts, watching this royal SUV in an EV avatar will always remain a dream now. However, Defender EV will get a totally redesigned new platform in the form of next-generation SUV, which is expected to launch sometime at the end of this decade.

The Royal Next-Gen Defender will get a Electric Motor

JLR’s Chief Operating Officer has given confirmations that the British brand was working on the current platform and was facing several packaging issues and challenges in the current-gen Defender’s platform. There are various electrification shortcomings of the current premium SUV and they are not able to find any solutions. Let’s deep diver in this:

He explained deep on this issue, “The current platform (L663) on its D7x iteration is not integrating the batteries and now we don’t want to launch its electric version” He further stated that the L663 platform is just brilliant and best at what it is capable of doing and we are having a four cylinder plug in version to integrate in the current lineup.

The main problem is the extra space for the batteries, which they need to properly integrate them, but there is no extra space available to stuff them, with the existing axle packaging and the capability that it needs.”

He also added that, “We have already stated that we will be making an electric production model for each of our established brands, (Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and the Jaguar), But finding extra space to fit the EV powertrains is quite difficult and really really hard. So, we will be developing an entirely new platform for the upcoming cars.

However Hoornik has still not clarified whether he is hinting at the new-generation Defender or an entirely new platform, or instead introducing a different EV brand of Defender model on a dedicated EV platform. Some things only time can tell and we have to wait and hope for its early release.