Electric truck maker SEA Electric announced a new deal with MEVCO (mining electric vehicle company) for the supply of 8,500 EVs over the next five years, based on the Toyota Hilux and the Land Cruiser. The zero-emission vehicles will be used in the mining industry, replacing diesel-powered trucks. The deal is valued at close to AU $1 billion (US $700 million).
SEA Electric, founded in Australia and headquartered in the US, is offering EV conversion kits for Toyota Hilux pickups, Ford Transit vans, Isuzu trucks, and other LCVs. In the case of the Hilux EV, the SEA-Drive powertrain comprises a permanent electric motor that produces a maximum of 180 hp (134 kW / 182 PS) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. Power is transmitted to either the rear (4×2) or to all four wheels (4×4) depending on the specification of the donor vehicle.
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The company offers two different battery capacities – 60 kWh for a 260 km (162 miles) range or 88 kWh for a 380 km (236 miles) range. More importantly, the Hilux EV can charge to 80% in less than one hour thanks to the optional DC charging (standard 22 kWh AC charger).
The Toyota Hilux EV by SEA Electric is available in different mining-specific designs with extra kit. The pictured vehicle features a lime green shade with MEVCO stickers, and a large bullbar with extra LEDs at the front.
As reported by CarExpert, the 8,500 EVs will be based on new rather than used models. We don’t know the specifications of the EV-converted Toyota Land Cruiser but more details will be announced shortly. SEA Electric claims that its system has completed over 2.5 million km (1.5 million miles) of real-world use to date, across eight countries.
Toyota revealed the Hilux Revo BEV concept last month, although it didn’t announce any technical specifications at the time – or any plans for putting it into production. There is also a Hilux FCEV under development in the UK using tech from the Mirai, although this will also be a concept.
