Australian EV conversion company Jaunt has re-engineered the classic Land Rover (1958–1985) for modern life and daily driving — and has now been recognised with a Gold Award from Good Design Australia for excellence in product design and innovation.
After over two years of dedicated research and development, Jaunt transforms these beloved but problematic vehicles into fully electric 4WDs with effortless power, refined capability, and a new level of comfort - without losing an ounce of their rugged charm.
Classic Land Rovers look incredible, with stories etched into every panel, but they’re loud, inefficient, unreliable, and a challenge to operate on today’s roads and applications.
“This is for people who love the classic Land Rover but wish they could do without the frustrations,” says Jaunt Co-Founder and CEO, Dave Budge. “We don’t just make them electric. We make them better in every single way.”
A Good Design Gold Winner
The Good Design Awards are Australia’s highest honour for design and innovation, celebrating projects that improve the way we live and work. The Gold Award is reserved for the most outstanding entries across each category, recognising projects that set a new benchmark for design excellence.
Jaunt’s Generation 2 Electric Land Rover was commended for its holistic approach - re-engineering an iconic vehicle from the ground up while preserving its soul. The judges praised the project for its integration of engineering, usability, and sustainability, showing how design can extend the life of existing products and reduce environmental impact.
An Old Land Rover, Completely Transformed
The Jaunt system isn’t about stripping away what makes a classic Land Rover special. It’s about removing mechanical complexity, improving performance and comfort, while still keeping that iconic personality.
Externally, converted Land Rovers retain their boxy, ladder-frame character. But beneath the skin, everything is modernised with more than 1,500 new parts:
- A powerful electric 4WD drivetrain that’s quieter, smoother, and delivers instant torque.
- A battery pack with a max range of up to 400 km.
- Major upgrades to braking, steering, suspension, and handling make the drive safer, easier, and far more enjoyable.
- Modern comforts like air conditioning and heated seats enhance every journey.
- A flat front floor with room for three seats, thanks to the removal of the transmission tunnel.
- Configurations from three to seven seats.
Your Land Rover, Your Way
Whether you already own a Land Rover or you’re dreaming of one, Jaunt can make it happen. You can bring your own vehicle for conversion, or Jaunt can source a base vehicle for you.
Every conversion meets Australia’s strict road safety standards (ADR compliant) and is eligible for registration in every state and territory. The EV system and re-engineered mechanical components are also available for other workshops to complete the conversion.
About the Good Design Awards
Established in 1958, the Good Design Awards are one of the world’s longest-running design recognition programs, celebrating excellence across architecture, engineering, product, digital, and social innovation.
