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The UK’s very first Liberty E-Range electric Range Rover has been delivered.
The pure electric Range Rover is joining the Switch EV demonstration programme, part of the Technology Strategy Board’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator programme. Its usage across the North East will be monitored and evaluated, developing the market for new models and applications of electric vehicles.
The E-Range is the first high performance, prestigious pure electric four-wheel drive vehicle to come to the UK, and boasts a range of 200 miles on a single charge, a 0-60 mph time of around seven seconds and a top speed of 100 miles per hour from its innovative battery and drivetrain technology.
The E-Range, the first of two to be made available to Switch EV, will be used by Tim Lamb, general manager at Metrocentre. Metrocentre is the first shopping centre in the UK to install a public fast charging unit which charges electric cars in 30 minutes.
“The Liberty Pure Electric E-Range vehicle enables the consumer to enjoy the power, prestige and luxury of the iconic Range Rover without the cost to the environment. We are excited to see it being driven in the North East and look forward to the Tim’s feedback, which will allow us to fine tune the E-Range driving experience” said Liberty Electric Cars Founder and CEO Barry Shrier.
The Switch EV trial has already seen five electric vehicles delivered and in constant use with organisations in the region, with valuable data already being collected from the cars and their drivers. These vehicles will be joined by 45 more over the coming weeks, giving over 150 people access to the vehicles over the next 2 years.
More information about the trials and the scope of the project can be found on the Switch EV project website including updated blog entries and case studies, and information about becoming a trial candidate, as a company or a private candidate.
The results generated through the Switch EV trial will contribute to the national picture of the developing electric vehicle market. The project is sponsored by One North East and the Technology Strategy Board. Switch EV is one of eight projects running in the UK supported by the Technology Strategy Board’s £25m Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Programme run in partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT). The £25 million investment across the UK has allowed the demonstration and development of new vehicle platforms and components to stimulate the electric vehicle market.
Liberty Electric Cars is a clean technology company based in the UK, Paris and Chicago, which has invested in the development of complete electric vehicle drivetrains that can be employed in a wide variety of transport platforms.
Switch EV brings together vehicle manufacturers Nissan, Smith Electric Vehicles, Avid Vehicles Limited and Liberty Electric Cars, with research and data analysis completed by the Transport Operation Research Group at the University of Newcastle, and with project management by Future Transport Systems.
The programme is designed to drive forward innovation in low carbon vehicles in the UK and will see over 340 vehicles trialled. Switch EV is supported by the Technology Strategy Board, in partnership with the Department for Transport, and One North East.
The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led government body which works to create economic growth by ensuring that the UK is a global leader in innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information visit www.innovateuk.org
The Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Programme is the largest of its kind in the world and is part-funded by the government-backed Technology Strategy Board, with £25m going towards eight projects involving some of the world’s top vehicle manufacturers and a wide mix of vehicle types. Match funding is provided by participating businesses. The aim of the programme, which will see around 340 vehicles trialled on the UK’s roads, is to accelerate the development of innovative low carbon vehicle technology.
