Passenger cars and SUVs are now available with fully electric powertrains and some automakers are now looking at doing the same for pick-up trucks. While the usage of such vehicles has shifted towards more personal urban/highway use, trucks are still the workhorses for many businesses which work off-road.
Thus the trucks still need to be as tough and capable as they have always been, and able to operate in difficult conditions. With combustion engines (typically diesel), the reliability and durability issues have long been proven, with trucks like the Hilux gained a reputation of being ‘unbreakable’.
But how will the same trucks perform when fitted with a fully electric powertrain? Besides the requirement for sufficient range, they also need to be able to take all the rough stuff and carry heavy payloads in extreme conditions of dust, mud and rocks.
Toyota has been developing a BEV (battery electric vehicle) version of its bestselling Hilux and as part of its real-world testing, it is working with BHP (originally Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited) in Australia to test the first-ever fully electric Hilux double cab.
The 12-month trial will enable Toyota to get feedback on real-world use at the mining company’s operations in Port Hedland in Western Australia.
Starting from November, the prototype vehicle will be used in a range of applications traditionally performed by diesel-powered light vehicles.
BHP President Australia, Geraldine Slattery, said BHP’s ambition is to electrify its light vehicle fleet and lower greenhouse gas emissions across its operations. This is dependent on enabling technology that can only be achieved through collaborations like this, with leading suppliers like Toyota,” said Ms Slattery.
“With around 5,000 light vehicles at our sites across Australia, we look forward to putting the Battery Electric Hilux through its paces and seeing the potential it can bring, not only to reduce diesel use in mining but eventually for all Hilux drivers too,” she said.
“Toyota has long advocated a multi-pathway approach towards decarbonisation, and when we do something, we want to make sure we do it right,” said Toyota Australia President & CEO, Matthew Callachor. “Joining with BHP to help further develop this Hilux BEV prototype is an important step in creating low-emission technologies in the light commercial vehicle space, particularly for use in harsh and demanding mining environments.”
Click here to know more about Hilux models available in Malaysia.
