Look Ma, No Driveshafts! Classic Defender Dips Its Toes in the EV Pool
I’ve driven my fair share of electric cars - fast ones, slow ones, quirky ones. Even electric boats, which used to be about as thrilling as watching a refrigerator defrost - that’s a different story for a different day. But an electric Land Rover Defender? Now that’s something to get an old petrolhead’s gears grinding.
Let’s not beat around the bush; the classic Defender wasn't known for its speed, fuel efficiency, or its ability to avoid leaving oil puddles wherever it parked. But it was, and still is, an icon. You could throw it off a cliff, park it under a leaky barn roof for twenty years, and the thing would still cough back to life.
Well, Bedeo, a feisty little British outfit with electric dreams, has taken the old Landie’s charm (and, shall we say, its shortcomings) and given it an electrifying twist. They’ve yanked out the Defender’s old chugging engine and replaced it with something a bit more… modern. Actually, make that four ‘somethings’. This Defender has hub motors – electric motors tucked right into the wheels!
Forget about clunky driveshafts or finicky differentials. With in-wheel motors, each wheel gets its own dose of power – 483 horsepower (360 kW) in total, to be exact. Now, that’s a hefty power bump from the original Defender's wheezy offerings. It’ll probably do 0-60 mph quicker than you can say “but where’s the engine?”
Bedeo claims about 154 miles (247 km) on a full charge, which ain’t great. However, let’s not forget the aerodynamics of a brick and those knobby off-road tires. Plus, the original Defender was never built for highway cruising, was it?
The beauty of this electric conversion is that you get the iconic Defender looks without all the greasy bits – or the oil spots. Oh, and did I mention it apparently loves water? Bedeo’s photos show this thing fording streams like a champ. Don’t try that in your Prius.
Of course, there’s always the million dollar question. How much will this electric nostalgia trip set you back? Bedeo’s not saying, but I’m betting it ain’t cheap. You could probably pick up a shiny new EV with better range, tech, and creature comforts for the price. Then again, those just don’t have the same soul, do they?
Bedeo isn’t stopping at the Defender, either. Their hub-motor magic could electrify all sorts of classics. Think of it; silent Jaguars, electric Minis…the possibilities boggle the mind. And, if that's not enough, they even do electric vans, trucks, and boats. Boats? Sign me up!
Love it or hate it, this electric Defender is the future poking its head through the garage door. It’s quirky, possibly a bit impractical, and sure to turn heads. And maybe, just maybe, it’s the start of something truly special for all those old classics we hold so dear.
