► Smaller 4×4 under development► Will be built alongside petrol and diesel
► Testing of hydrogen prototype begins later this year
Ineos Automotive founder Jim Ratcliffe has confirmed that the rumoured electric version of the Grenadier 4×4 is going ahead.
In an Ineos promotional video, the billionaire industrialist told interview Mark Evans: ‘I think the Grenadier is perfect for a hydrogen engine in time. But what we’re also looking at quite carefully at the moment is a smaller version of the Grenadier, electric.
‘We need to embrace the future, which clearly in an urban environment is going to be electric. But even in a country environment, when you’re a farmer, you probably will have an electric car which you can drive around on tracks and things like that.
‘You’ll want one which is capable, but it’s electric. I think that’s our vision at the moment.’
An Ineos Automotive spokesperson confirmed that the new model will use a smaller, purpose-built platform. The aim is to keep the same function-first approach, and the same rugged off-road ability. There’s no news yet on when it will be available.
Sir Jim’s Ineos empire is big in hydrogen, and has long been open about its aim of Ineos Automotive creating a hydrogen fuel cell version of the Grenadier. During the three years since Ineos announced it was getting petrol and diesel engines from BMW, it was initially very negative about the prospects of an electric version, given the range and charging challenges some of its more remote users would face.
But in recent months that line has softened, and now Ineos has bowed to the inevitable. It says electric Grenadiers will be built alongside diesel and petrol versions at the factory in Hambach, France, where the first customer cars are about to start rolling out of the doors.
The BMW deal includes switching to hybrids later in the decade. Meanwhile, the hydrogen option will take a step closer to reality with on- and off-road testing set to commence later this year.
Keyword: Ineos confirms electric Grenadier