Range Rover Electric Caught Testing In Dubai

The majority of automakers would rather test their new models with more patterns than a rave poster from the 1990s or with what appear to be cardboard boxes. But not Land Rover. Prior to its formal launch, the company unveiled images of its new electric Range Rover that demonstrated the SUV's off-road capabilities on Arabian sand dunes.

The Range Rover EV, one of the most eagerly awaited electric vehicles on the planet, surpasses off-road vehicles with combustion engines in hot, dry desert conditions, according to Land Rover. With its conversion from a traditional V8 to an electric drivetrain, the 2025 Range Rover Electric is not your typical off-roader.

The most recent Range Rover Electric test was conducted in the Al Badayer desert in Sharjah. The goal of dragging an electric Range Rover over this kind of terrain, in temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius and as high as 90 percent humidity, is to make sure the drivetrain is dependable, temperature-controlled, and designed to support longevity and maximum range. 

Batteries cannot withstand extremely high or low temperatures. Excessive heat rapidly deteriorates batteries, impairing their capacity to store and transfer charge. Automakers are constantly trying to keep batteries cool because extreme heat can reduce their range by up to 30%.

Range Rover Electric's revolutionary thermal management system, which intelligently regulates heat dispersion throughout the car, will be put to the test in temperatures above 120 degrees. When you combine that with 90% humidity, torture is inevitable. Especially when the typical Range Rover driver expects the climate control system to operate with accuracy.

“A hot climate is one of the most challenging for any battery electric vehicle, because of the need to cool the cabin and optimize battery performance at the same time. The additional challenge of driving on sand requires controlled low-speed torque, so our specially developed traction control and thermal management systems work in harmony to ensure power delivery is unaffected
“Our tests have shown that in this climate, repeatedly driving the equivalent of 100 meters uphill on fine sand, Range Rover Electric matches the performance of its ICE equivalents; in some instances, even surpassing them – thanks to the introduction of these new features,” said Thomas Müller, Executive Director, Product Engineering.

According to Range Rover, all of its vehicles must complete the ascent five times without losing performance before moving on to the next stage of testing. The EV reportedly passed this test "with flying colours."
The EV's "well-balanced weight distribution" and suspension system, together with a new Intelligent Torque Management system that can control wheel slip in each individual engine, have been touted by the manufacturer as contributing to its off-road prowess. This is said to lower the torque reaction time at each wheel from 100 milliseconds to as little as 1 millisecond.

Full specifications for this electrified Range Rover, which has previously been tested in -40 degree temperatures around the Arctic Circle, are yet to be confirmed as testing and development continue, although Range Rover plans to open customer reservations in 2025.