Starmer’s armoured car can’t be electric due to bomb risk

Most of us worry about charging our electric cars or if they’ll get us to our holiday destination. But for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the concerns are a bit more… explosive.

Indeed, it turns out that his official armoured Range Rover Sentinels, vehicles built to protect him from any threats, can’t be switched out for an electric car alternative as its manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), says it can’t guarantee the “required safety levels” against bomb attacks.

This sheds light on a surprising problem with heavy, protective cars and the future of electric cars.

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Why the “bomb risk”?

Armoured vehicles are a small but highly specialised part of the car industry. They’re built with features such as bulletproof glass and blast-resistant floor plating, which adds a massive amount of weight to already heavy cars. This is where the engineering challenge comes into play.

JLR says sticking a heavy EV battery into an armoured vehicle is tricky, especially with blast safety. The company didn’t go into detail, but it likely has to do with how the extra weight messes with speed and range, and how it makes charging a pain.

This puts a spotlight on the trade-offs of EV technology, especially for high-stakes applications. While the average driver is enjoying lower running costs and a quieter drive, this shows there are still unique hurdles for certain types of vehicles.

A tale of two carmakers

Interestingly, JLR’s German alternative, BMW, seems to have a different take. Its electric i7 Protection sedan is advertised with “special armour” designed to protect against explosives. This shows that the industry is still in a transitional phase, and what one company sees as an impossible engineering challenge, another might be trying to solve.

For now, Starmer and his team will be sticking with their trusted petrol-powered Range Rovers. While the rest of us are navigating the transition to electric, it’s a reminder that for some, the future of driving is still a work in progress.

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