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Stopping in its tracks
Page 46
Page 48
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Land Rover is going green with the launch of its eTerrain Technologies programme. First to emerge is a stop-start Freelander engine, which CM takes for a spin.
Words: Colin Barnett
When it comes to major advances in environmentally friendly vehicles, Land Rover may not be the first manufacturer that comes to mind. But by the very nature of its product range, where go-anywhere capability is inevitably achieved at the cost of reduced fuel economy and the corresponding increase in CO2 emissions, it has come under the green spotlight to a disproportionate extent.
The politics of envy and environmental extremism has led to situations such as Land Rover-targeted vandalism and even protesters chaining themselves to the Solihull production line.
For Land Rover to fend off such situations and to reduce the average CO2 emissions of its product range, it has had to take a lead role in fuel-consumption reduction technology, but without diminishing the legendary off-road ability. Its approach is the multi-stage programme known as e_Terrain Technologies.
The first fruit of the programme to reach production is the Freelander 2 TD4_e, with an engine stop-start system.
Although not the first such system on sale on an LCV in the UK — the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter takes that honour — the Freelander adds an extra level of intelligence to its operation. Functionality is the same: when stationary, out of gear and foot off the clutch, the engine will stop.
Depress the clutch ready to move off and the uprated starter spins the engine back to life. The enhancements include smoothing out the engine stop and restart by removing the alternator's load and changing the engine fuelling map to a more gradual transition to and from zero fuel. An adequate electrical supply for ancillaries such as heating, audio and Bluetooth systems is achieved by a Voltage Quality Module, while a battery monitoring system controls the state of the high-tech absorption glass mat battery. Brake servo vacuum is also monitored and a new auxiliary water pump maintains coolant flow on the static engine. If any of the parameters monitored by these systems falls out of scope. the engine either doesn't stop, or restarts automatically to restore the situation.
Boosting the economy Further aids to economy include a dash gear-shift indicator light, revised engine software and lower-rollingresistance tyres.The effects of the system will obviously be greater around town than cruising the M4, but the result is a reduction in the official CO„. from 194g/lcm to l 79g/km compared with a regular Freelander 2 TD4, which translates to 4.5mpg. With a higher proportion of urban driving, Land Rover engineers claim up to 20% improvement.
To demonstrate the urban benefits, Land Rover laid on a rather unconventional test route from Heathrow's Terminal 5 to the iconic 'Gherkin' building located in the City of London.
After an easy drive in along the M4, our pre-programmed route took us off the main drag before heading south of the river towards Battersea. Plenty of red lights gave the stop-start mechanism ample opportunity to show its abilities, and quite simply, it does what it claims without fuss.
Traditionally, stopping and starting a four-cylinder diesel engine is a shaky business, and while it still isn't the most refined operation, it's at acceptable levels.
Intelligent technology
One (bad) habit we've adopted with the Mercedes-Benz version is to put the lever into first gear before depressing the clutch to speed up restarts, but the Land Rover is too smart to allow this. In fact, if you stall while off-roading, depressing the clutch will automatically restart the engine in certain of the transmission's modes, a positive benefit.
We discovered this at Battersea, where a halt for tea turned into a serious off-road exercise on a course built around and inside the landmark power station. Apart from this, the stop/start didn't impose on the Freelander 2's surprisingly good off-road ability. After a quick wheel wash, we were back into the city traffic for more successful stopping and starting.
The Land Rover system certainly earns its keep, and the good news is that it will be fitted as standard and at no extra cost across the Freelander 2 range from May, with some early examples already being provided to fleet customers. •