The Toyota HiLux has gone electric with factory backing, but you won’t find this battery-powered dual-cab in Australian showrooms any time soon.
Toyota Australia has today announced it will supply its all-electric HiLux – officially named the HiLux BEV (battery-electric vehicle) prototype – to mining giant BHP for a 12-month trial, starting in November.
BHP’s Port Hedland operations in the far north of Western Australia will serve as home base for the HiLux BEV Prototype. The mining giant will provide feedback on the suitability of the Japanese brand’s zero-emissions dual-cab, which will return to Toyota following the trial.
“Toyota has long advocated a multi-pathway approach towards decarbonisation, and when we do something, we want to make sure we do it right,” Toyota Australia President and CEO Matthew Callachor said in a media statement.
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“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.”
Toyota Australia hasn’t detailed the HiLux BEV prototype’s specifications, though it’s likely to be very closely related to the HiLux Revo BEV single-cab that was revealed in concept form back in 2022.
That latter has since done a tour of major global markets for the HiLux, which included a stop in Australia where local Toyota engineers were able to have a detailed look at the electric ute.
CarExpert was also able to drive it in October last year, before Toyota Motor Asia executive vice president Pras Ganesh confirmed the carmaker would produce an electric HiLux for the mass market before the end of 2025.
Confirmation that Toyota would build its own electric HiLux came shortly before Australian startup ROEV – which planned to convert the popular ute to battery power for mining companies – pulled the plug on its EV version of the dual-cab.
Additionally, electric mining vehicle provider MEVCO previously announced its plans to turn 8500 new or near-new HiLux and LandCruiser diesels into EVs, and the Chinese-built, Dutch-backed Tembo Tusker EV ute will be aimed at both fleet and private buyers.
The LDV eT60 was the first battery-electric ute released to the public here, in late 2022. But the upcoming arrival of the Toyota HiLux BEV prototype comes amid a big push from carmakers to bring more electrified utes to Australia.
Today, BYD is opening orders for the Shark 6 dual-cab, Australia’s first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute, and next year Ford will introduce a PHEV version of the best-selling Ranger.
Toyota recently added electrical assistance to selected versions of the HiLux, in the form of a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that brings significantly smaller benefits compared to the brand’s class-leading full-hybrid vehicles when it comes to fuel consumption and emissions.
Toyota HiLux Revo BEV Concept vehicle.
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