Starmer cannot have armoured electric Range Rover because of bomb risk'

"But Keir Starmer has an unusual obstacle to making the switch Britain's largest carmaker has claimed electric vehicles (EVs) do not offer adequate bomb protection. The prime minister's armoured Range Rover Sentinels will need to remain as petrol versions for the foreseeable future, according to their manufacturer, JLR. The maker of Jaguar and Land Rover cars addressed the issue in written responses to a government consultation on EV sales rules."

"JLR said armoured cars should be excluded from the targets, known as the zero emission vehicle mandate, because it does not see any workable engineering solution to the challenges surrounding an armoured BEV [battery EV], primarily because the required safety levels and blast protection cannot be achieved. Armoured vehicles are a small but very profitable business for carmakers. They usually have bulletproof glass, armour plating, and bomb blankets under the floor, adding hundreds of kilograms of weight to already heavy cars."

Would-be car buyers considering switching from petrol to electric often worry about upfront costs, charger access and battery range. Britain’s largest carmaker, JLR, claims electric vehicles do not offer adequate bomb protection, so armoured Range Rover Sentinels must remain petrol for the foreseeable future. JLR told a government consultation that armoured cars should be excluded from the zero emission vehicle mandate because engineering solutions cannot meet required safety levels and blast protection for armoured BEVs. Armoured cars add hundreds of kilograms through bulletproof glass, armour plating and underfloor bomb blankets, reducing range and increasing recharge time. BMW offers an electric i7 Protection with floor and ceiling armouring. JLR said the UK government is its main British customer and builds the vehicles at Solihull.

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