Electrogenic reveals ‘drop in’ EV conversion kit for Land Rover Defenders

By Sam Phillips

21 Jun 2022

Electric vehicle conversion specialist Electrogenic has launched a new ‘drop in’ kit that can turn a working Land Rover Defender into a fully electric car.

The conversion kit - which is aimed at the agricultural sector and land owners - has been in development and tested over the past 18 months on Worthy Farm, host of the Glastonbury festival.

Electrogenic says the kit is designed to be installed by a suitably qualified mechanic and be maintenance free.

An electric motor is simply bolted to the Defender’s existing clutch bell housing, so the vehicle keeps all its gears. The motor produces 120bhp and 173 lb ft torque which the firm says is comparable to the original diesel engine.

A 52kWh battery is mounted under the bonnet which delivers a range of more than 100 miles on the road and considerably more when driving off-road or around a farm.

As standard, the kit is equipped with 7.5kW AC overnight charging via a Type 2 connector. Fast charging can be added as an optional extra.

The Defenders original four-wheel-drive layout is retained after the conversion has been fitted, with Electrogenic highlighting improvements to off-road ability thanks to the addition of an electric motor.

Electrogenic says the torque delivered by the electric motor makes the converted Defender “effortless to drive” and that the added torque is also useful when towing.

Regenerative braking is also available and allows for controlled brake-free off-roads descents.

The conversion kit is priced at £24,000 plus VAT with the firm citing a £6000 saving in fuel costs over the course of an average year of on-farm use.

“We do high-specification conversions for road-warriors, but this kit is all about giving landowners an economic, sustainable option,” said Steve Drummond, Electrogenic co-founder.

“It gives Land Rover Defenders – long a trusty workhorse for farms up and down the country – an affordable new lease of life, reducing running costs while enhancing performance and driveability around the estate.”