More Toyota HiLux and LandCruiser EVs on the way
SEA Electric and MEVCO to produce 8500 electric utes for mining companies over the next five yearsElectric fleet vehicle converter SEA Electric has announced a new deal with MEVCO to supply 8500 zero-emission Toyota HiLux and LandCruiser vehicles to the Australian mining industry over the next five years.
The deal is said to be worth close to $1 billion and more than half of this year’s allocation has already been sold, mimicking the demand for converted battery-electric HiLux and Ford Ranger fleet vehicles currently being enjoyed by Aussie EV start-up Roev.
The vehicles can be had in either 4x2 or 4x4 configurations and with the choice of a 60kWh battery offering a claimed 260km driving range or a bigger 88kWh pack providing 380km of range.
Both batteries are covered by a five-year warranty and can be charged using a DC fast-charger. SEA hasn’t stipulated the maximum charging power but says DC charging can yield up to 80 per cent of battery capacity in less than an hour.
According to SEA Electric founder and CEO Tony Fairweather, companies across all industries are starting to understand they have a role to play in reducing climate change.
“With the SEA-Drive power system, we have developed technology that is perfectly adaptable to a wide range of commercial vehicle tasks that have typically been the domain of diesel-powered engines,” he said.
“Through MEVCO, the mining industry will now be able to access cutting-edge technology, which delivers top performance and total cost of ownership prospects, all with sustainability at the forefront.”
MEVCO CEO Matt Cahir echoed Fairweather’s faith in the product and described the deal as a “a pivotal partnership for the mining industry”.
“It enables the world’s leading EV technology for heavy and light commercial trucks to be commercialized on a scale that makes sense for the bespoke needs of the mining sector,” he said.
No pricing has been released to the public, which as with Roev is so far not being targeted by SEA, but demonstration models are available to industry players in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
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