British automaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has officially launched its electric vehicle test center in the United Kingdom, Reuters reports.
The move is a crucial part of the company’s strategy to accelerate its development of new EV models for market launch.
About the new Future Energy Lab
The Tata Motors-owned brand previously announced plans to allocate 15 billion pounds ($19 billion) within the following 5 years for product development, including the new Jaguar EV by 2025.
As part of this investment, JLR spent 250 million pounds ($304 million) on the new Future Energy Lab test facility in Whitney, Coventry. It will oversee the necessary testing for JLR’s next-gen EV offerings.
According to BBC, the new lab will also work on Electric Drive Units for the brands’ electric Range Rover, Defender, Discovery, and Jaguar models.
The upcoming all-electric Range Rover is apparently undergoing “hundreds of thousands” of tests in rigs at the 323,000 sq ft facility.
Significance
According to the British automotive brand, having its own test facility is crucial to save money from importing prototype models globally to undergo testing. Moreover, it can also cut the carbon footprint induced in the process.
More importantly, the new facility will “significantly increase JLR’s test and development capacity,” JLR emphasized.
“Our operations at Whitley are at the heart of JLR – itself a leading business in the local community – so this test facility is another jewel in the crown of our move towards an all-electric future.”
Oliver Boakes, chief engineer at Powertrain test operations at JLR
Apart from that, it generated a total of 350 new job opportunities so far. As of now, JLR’s Future Energy Lab employs over 200 electric vehicle engineers.
The facility is expected to create more local jobs in the coming months.
EVs in the pipeline
JLR aims to develop and launch 9 new luxury electric cars by 2030 as it aims to catch up in the rapidly growing industry.
The Range Rover BEV is the first model to launch as early as 2024. The remaining 8 models will follow before this decade ends. As mentioned, it is now undergoing “hundreds of thousands” of tests in rigs at the 323,000 sq ft facility.
However, the company has yet to release more details about these new electric vehicle models.
UK’s Prime Minister recently delayed the 2030 ban for new petrol car sales to 2035, claiming that the previously set timeline will burden the customers financially. Despite the delay, JLR is among the automakers to stay committed to its electrification initiatives. The new local test facility will significantly aid JLR in bringing new EV models to the market.
