Sir Keir Starmer’s armoured Range Rover Sentinels will remain petrol-powered for the foreseeable future because electric vehicles (EVs) cannot provide adequate bomb protection, according to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The carmaker told the government that it sees “no workable engineering solution” to the challenges of building an armoured battery EV, citing safety and blast protection concerns.
JLR’s comments were made in written responses to a government consultation on EV sales targets, obtained by the Fast Charge newsletter. The company argued that armoured cars should be excluded from the zero emission vehicle mandate, as the required safety levels “cannot be achieved” with current EV technology. Armoured vehicles typically feature bulletproof glass, armour plating, and bomb blankets, adding hundreds of kilograms of weight.
Key engineering hurdles likely include the extra weight from battery cells, reduced range, and lengthy recharging times. However, German rival BMW has produced an armoured electric i7 Protection saloon with “special armouring” in the floor and ceiling to protect against explosives, suggesting the challenges are not universal.
The UK government is the main domestic customer for JLR’s armoured vehicles, which are built in Solihull and converted by its special vehicle operations department. Precise specifications of the prime ministerial fleet remain classified, but the Range Rovers are understood to have 5-litre V8 engines to enable rapid acceleration if needed. Downing Street also uses non-electric German-made armoured Audi A8 saloons.
Tom Riley, author of the Fast Charge newsletter, remarked: “This is the first time I’ve come across ‘blast anxiety’ as an excuse not to switch. Clearly it’s a valid concern, but it does mean the prime minister could be the last Brit to go electric.” For ordinary motorists who do not face bomb threats, EVs offer lower lifetime costs and minimal “range anxiety” for typical journeys under 200 miles.
