It’s now possible to have your old Land Rover Defender converted into a pure electric vehicle thanks to a Yorkshire company called Twisted. They’ll charge you about £70,000 for it, not including the cat itself, but the work will result in a thoroughly cutting edge EV.
Starting with a last generation Defender 90, 110 or 130 model, Twisted will pare it back to the chassis, remove the engine and drivetrain, and replace it all with electric running gear. A 60kWh battery pack is mounted under the floor and an electric motor under the bonnet where there once was a chugging old diesel.
Buyers get two power choices. The entry-level version has 214bhp and 380Nm while a more powerful variant offers 320bhp and 460Nm, good for an 8.2-second 0-62mph time – significantly quicker than anything an old Defender can muster. The range is a claimed 200-or-so miles, according to the company.
The good news for those running their Defenders in the manner for which they were designed is that none of the car’s off-road ability, nor towing ability, is lost. Power is sent through the original transfer case and locking differentials, which are themselves given a proper overhaul.
Spec the more powerful version and Twisted will also beef up the brakes, upgrade the suspension to Bilsten stuff and fit wider wheels and tyres. Buyers of the lower powered version can have any or all of that stuff optionally, all of it designed to help the chassis manage what is a significant power bump.
Gareth Hamer, overseeing the EV project for Twister, said: “I’m really excited to have the ability to bring EV ownership to users of a classic British vehicle. Our solution is completely engineered from the ground up using the highest-quality new automotive components. The system is ready to be deployed at scale internationally and is very different from the 'home-brew' style of electrification.”
The company expects the electric Defender to be hugely popular in America, and so it has released two off-the-shelf versions (car included, that is) for the US market. The basic car, called NAS-E and complete with the lower powered drivetrain, costs $185,000 (£150,000), while the more powerful model, called NAS-E Plus, costs $210,000 (£170,000). Upgrades over a bog-standard ICE Defender include a full roll cage and a touchscreen infotainment setup.
Keyword: Twisted can make your old Land Rover 100% electric