Canberra (Newsman): With factory support, the Toyota HiLux has switched to electric propulsion, but this battery-powered dual-cab won’t be available in Australian showrooms anytime soon.
Today, Toyota Australia announced that it will provide mining behemoth BHP with an all-electric HiLux, officially known as the HiLux BEV (battery-electric vehicle) prototype, for a 12-month trial starting in November.
BHP will deploy the HiLux BEV prototype from its Port Hedland facility in Western Australia’s far north.
The Japanese brand’s zero-emissions dual-cab will be returned to Toyota after the experiment, and the mining behemoth will offer input on its suitability.
Toyota Australia President and CEO Matthew Callachor said, “Toyota has long advocated a multi-pathway approach towards decarbonization, and when we do something, we want to make sure we do it right.”
The details of Toyota Australia’s HiLux BEV prototype are unknown; however, it is probably going to be quite similar to the HiLux Revo BEV single-cab, which was unveiled in concept form back in 2022.
The latter has now toured the HiLux’s main international markets, stopping in Australia so that local Toyota engineers could have a close-up look at the electric truck.
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Just before Australian startup ROEV, which intended to convert the well-liked Ute to battery power for mining industries, discontinued its EV version of the dual-cab, Toyota said it would create its own electric HiLux.
Furthermore, the Chinese-built, Dutch-backed Tembo Tusker EV Ute will be targeted at both fleet and private buyers.
MEVCO, an electric mining vehicle provider, has revealed its plans to convert 8500 new or almost new HiLux and LandCruiser diesels into EVs.
In late 2022, the LDV eT60 became the first battery-electric Ute to be made available to the general public in this country.
However, the Toyota HiLux BEV prototype is set to arrive soon, coinciding with a strong push by automakers to introduce more electrified Utes to Australia.
Orders for Australia’s first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Ute, the Shark 6 dual-cab, are being accepted by BYD today, and Ford will launch a PHEV variant of the popular Ranger the following year.
The 48-volt mild-hybrid system that Toyota recently introduced electrical assistance to a few HiLux models offers much less in terms of fuel economy and emissions than the brand’s class-leading full-hybrid cars.
