Sir Keir Starmer may get to keep driving petrol cars after 2030 – even as the rest of Britain goes electric.
Land Rover says it can’t build an armoured electric Range Rover that meets the Prime Minister’s security needs. The company told government officials that bomb-proof EVs aren’t technically possible with current technology.
That creates a problem. The UK bans sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, but the PM still needs protection.
Engineering Challenges Block Electric Security Cars
The Prime Minister traditionally drives vehicles from British manufacturers. The current choice is an armoured Range Rover Sentinel – a petrol-powered SUV that can withstand explosions and gunfire.
JLR planned to launch the Range Rover Electric in 2026. Many expected Starmer would switch to the electric version to set an example for the country.
But that won’t happen.
Tom Riley, editor of the Fast Charge EV newsletter, obtained JLR’s response to the government’s ZEV Mandate consultation. The Midlands-based company requested exemptions for “special purpose vehicles” – including ambulances, wheelchair accessible vehicles and armoured cars.
“JLR does not see any workable engineering solution to the challenges surrounding an armoured BEV, primarily because the required safety levels and blast protection cannot be achieved.”
The company pointed out that the UK Government is its main customer for armoured vehicles in Britain.
BMW Disagrees – Already Builds Protected EVs
Other manufacturers think differently about electric security cars.
BMW already builds and sells the “Protection” version of its i7 luxury saloon. The electric car offers similar security features to traditional armoured vehicles.
That creates an awkward choice for the Prime Minister. He could switch to a foreign manufacturer to meet Britain’s clean transport goals. Or he could stick with British-built V8 petrol cars while telling everyone else to go electric.
Riley noted the irony of the situation.
“As funny as this story seems, clearly, it’s a valid concern. Of course, it would be delightful to see a Prime Minister zipping around in an EV, though not at the expense of them being blown to smithereens.”
He added that JLR’s engineers need to solve the problem quickly.
“As the biggest British manufacturer, we’d best keep our fingers crossed that JLR’s engineers manage to work this one out [otherwise] it could mean the Prime Minister and other senior ministers will be allowed to remain in petrol cars beyond 2030 – despite everyone else in the country being encouraged into EVs because of laws set by No10.”
The situation highlights unexpected challenges in Britain’s transition to electric vehicles. Even as the government pushes consumers toward EVs, some specialized applications remain difficult to electrify.
JLR hasn’t said whether it’s actively working on solutions for armoured electric vehicles.
