Australian company to build 8500 electric Toyota HiLux, LandCruiser utes for mining sites

Melbourne-based electric commercial vehicle manufacturer SEA Electric says it intends to convert 8500 Toyota HiLux and LandCruiser utes for distribution to electric power for numerous Australian mining sites over the next five years.

In a media statement, SEA Electric announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mining Electric Vehicle Company (MEVCO), a start-up which specialises in distributing zero-emission vehicles to mines.

SEA Electric claims the plan to supply MEVCO with the 8500 electric HiLux and LandCruiser utes by 2028 is worth almost $1 billion – working out at an average cost of more than $115,000 per vehicle.

According to SEA Electric, the HiLux and LandCruiser’s engines are removed and replaced by the Melbourne company’s direct-drive electric motor, available for both 4×2 and 4×4 versions of the HiLux, and the 4×4-only LandCruiser.

The electric motor is powered by a choice of two batteries – a 60kWh pack with up to 260km of claimed driving range, or a larger 88kWh unit which is said to be capable of up to 380km.

Both battery packs be DC fast-charged, claimed to replenish about 80 per cent charge in one hour.

SEA Electric is one of a number of companies developing packages to convert Australia’s best-selling utes to electric power – joining firms such as Roev in Queensland.

In October 2022, SEA Electric told Drive its electric-powered Toyota HiLux conversions would likely cost close to $100,000 – almost four times as much as the ute’s cheapest petrol-powered, 4×2 manual variant which is priced from $25,375 plus on-road costs.

SEA Electric is yet to announce pricing for its electric-converted LandCruisers. The least-expensive new variant of the Toyota LandCruiser ‘79 Series’ single cab-chassis ute is priced from $72,550 plus on-road costs.

SEA Electric claims more than half of its 2023 allocation of electric commercial vehicles have been pre-sold – which includes its battery-powered Iveco and Hino trucks.

In today’s media statement, MEVCO CEO Matt Cahir said the deal is “a pivotal partnership for the mining industry”.

“It enables the world’s leading EV (electric vehicle) technology for heavy and light commercial trucks to be commercialised on a scale that makes sense for the bespoke needs of the mining sector,” Mr Cahir said.

“SEA Electric’s unique architecture is perfectly suited for the task, with the system’s high-torque characteristics ideally fit for purpose.”

SEA Electric isn’t the only Australian company converting the country’s top-selling utes into electric vehicles.

In November 2022, Queensland tech start-up Roev announced pricing and specifications of its electric Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger conversion packages, starting from $47,990 – not including the cost of the donor vehicles, which typically range from $50,000 to $65,000.