LDV eT60 to become Australia’s first electric ute in November

First Australian deliveries of the LDV eT60 electric ute will start within weeks, making the battery-powered dual-cab the first EV ute on the local market.

LDV Australia has today confirmed the all-electric eT60 pick-up will be available by November as part of a three-pronged EV onslaught.

As well as the eT60 electric ute, LDV has also confirmed it will begin selling the eDeliver 9 electric van and Mifa 9 electric people-mover.

The three EVs are considered a fresh beginning for the Chinese brand as it looks to capitalise on growing interest in electric vehicles and buyers becoming increasingly open to switching brands to own a battery-powered vehicle.

“It’s brand transformational in terms of elevating our status,” says LDV Australia general manager Dinesh Chinnappa. 

“Overnight we go from being a challenger brand in the ICE space to actually being a leader in the EV space.

“The Australian auto industry is at a crucial pivot point and embarking on a journey many countries commenced years ago. LDV is at the forefront of this journey for commercial vehicles.”

It’s the LDV eT60 ute that’s the most interesting of the soon-to-arrive EV trio from LDV.

Utes account for more than one in five new vehicle sales in Australia and the lesser-known LDV brand has leapfrogged rivals as diverse as Tesla, Rivian, Ford, Chevrolet, Hummer, Ford, Toyota and Volkswagen in bringing one to the Australian market.

It has also beaten planned electric vehicle conversions of existing Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger utes from the likes of SEA Automotive and Roev, as well as the Warrego hydrogen fuel-cell Ford Ranger from H2X.

“We’re first to market with an electric pick-up – it’s important,” says Chinnappa of the imminent arrival of the eT60.

The LDV eT60 uses a single electric motor driving only the rear wheels. Its peak outputs are 130kW and 310Nm, which is below the circa-150kW/500Nm outputs of the most popular diesel-powered utes.

Underneath is an 88.5kWh battery pack claimed to provide 325km of WLTP range.

Charging can be done at up to 80kW using a DC fast-charger, which the company says will boost the battery level from 20 to 80 per cent in as little as 45 minutes.

Slower AC charging can be done at up to 11kW, providing a full charge in about nine hours. The more common 7.4kW home wallbox would take more like 13 hours and a regular powerpoint about 40 hours.

Standard features will be as per the T60, including a 10.25-inch touch-screen, a full suite of driver/safety aids

The big question is how much the LDV eT60 will cost.

In New Zealand it’s offered for $NZ79,990 drive-way, which directly converts to about $A70,000 (although the exchange rate is currently volatile).

However, there’s every chance the New Zealand importer has priced the eT60 to benefit from the generous $NZ8625 rebate available in the country for EVs priced below $NZ80K.

The best estimates on pricing for Australia have the eT60 floating somewhere north of $80,000, which would put the LDV EV at the pointy end of the ute market.

LDV Australia says the ute will clearly not appeal to everyone, especially as towing capacity is limited to 1500kg and it lacks the 4x4 capability many buyers want.

LDV is not pretending the eT60 is ideal for the masses, but it says there has been plenty of early interest – something the company anticipates ramping up following confirmation of timing and the imminent arrival of the first customer cars.

“We’ve had good solid interest,” says Chinnappa. “We’ve been talking to last-mile fleets, some government and energy utility customers… we’re holding deposits.”

Chinnappa says LDV Australia has secured a “small number of orders” and that it was in “early stages of discussions with both blue-chip corporates and governments”.

“Many, many, many blue-chip companies and governments in Australia want to start the process of electrification… they see it as inevitable that Australia will follow the rest of the world eventually.”

He also says there’s been interest from small to medium enterprises and even private buyers desperate to get into an electric ute. While there has been loads of EV ute action overseas, it’s so far been elusive to Australians.

“We sold a T60 [EV] ute to a professional up in the Gold Coast – he’s a bloke that doesn't want to drive a Tesla,” he said.

As for supply of the eT60, LDV Australia isn’t talking thousands of vehicles but says it believes there won’t be long queues – as has been the case with many other EVs.

“I think supply will be available proportional to demand in the early stages,” says Chinnappa. “I’m not seeing demand being stifled by supply.”

LDV is also taking its EV message to the electric van market with the eDeliver 9.

Based on the Deliver 9 van, LDV Australia has opted only to bring the larger long-wheelbase version of the EV, complete with the largest battery pack it is fitted with internationally.

Like the eT60 ute, the battery-powered commercial van gets a single electric motor driving two wheels and producing 130kW (although NZ specs state 150kW) and 310Nm for a claimed 0-100km/h time of a big 18.4 seconds.

The eDeliver 9 also gets the same CATL-supplied 88.55kWh battery as the eT60.

Its charging parameters are the same as the eT60, which means a 20-80 per cent DC charge in as little as 45 minutes and a full AC charge in about nine hours.

While Australian details of the eDeliver 9 van are yet to be announced, the New Zealand specifications show it has 7.4 cubic-metres of cargo capacity, a payload of 860kg and range of 296km.

In New Zealand – where it’s also available in cab/chassis form with 65kWh battery that results in a short 155km range and a huge 25sec 0-100km/h time – the big-battery, LWB version of the eDeliver 9 sells for about $100K, so expect Australian pricing upwards of $90,000.

The final player in the new LDV EV trio is the Mifa 9 electric people-mover. Its name is an acronym for Maximum, Intelligent, Friendly and Artistic.

It will initially be offered with seven seats but an eight-seat model is due in 2023.

The electric people-carrier also comes with a newer generation electrical architecture that includes new batteries developed as part of a joint-venture between LDV parent company SAIC and Chinese battery giant CATL.

The battery has a 90kWh capacity and is claimed to give a WLTP range of 440km, depending on the variant.

The DC charge time from 20-80 per cent is claimed at 36 minutes, while AC charging at up to 11kW allows for a full charge in 8.5 hours.

But it’s the futuristic design – including a cabin with luxury finishes and modern shapes – and long list of tech that is likely to define the people-mover newcomer.

Chinnappa describes the Mifa 9 as “next-generation” people-mover that could carve itself a handy niche in the Aussie market.

“Mifa 9 may not be for every person in Australia but Mifa is a statement of intent of what Chinese auto is capable of,” he says.

Early targets for sales include eco-tourism operators and wineries looking for an electric vehicle with loads of luxury and zero-emissions credentials.

But Chinnappa believes once it settles into the market it could appeal to private buyers looking for space and luxury in an EV.

“Do not be surprised when a professional family person from an upper middle-class area… says we can travel with this level of opulence… and be electric with no emissions.”

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