Toyota has introduced a new prototype of its Hilux BEV (battery-electric vehicle) project, marking its first fully electric model based on a double chassis-cab Hilux.
This zero-emissions prototype will undergo a 12-month trial in Australia’s mining industry, providing crucial data for Toyota’s long-term production plans and testing its capacity for extreme conditions.
Beginning in November 2024, BHP will deploy the Hilux BEV prototype at Port Hedland, one of the largest iron ore sites globally, located in Western Australia.
This new trial aims to replace diesel-powered trucks across various applications within the site, subjecting the Hilux BEV to some of the world’s harshest operational environments.
Toyota’s goal is to assess whether an electric Hilux can genuinely match the durability and power needs demanded by industries like mining.
“Toyota has long advocated a multi-pathway approach towards decarbonisation,” says Matthew Callachor, President and CEO of Toyota Australia. “When we do something, we want to make sure we do it right,” he adds, highlighting the importance of data from the mining trial for future designs in demanding environments.
Toyota has so far kept technical specifics under wraps.
Neither the motor’s power output nor battery capacity has been disclosed, and details on range remain limited.
However, the Hilux BEV does feature notable design tweaks, including a fortified front bumper with embedded LEDs, a bull bar, and a charging port located on the front fender - practical adjustments for both the road and rugged sites.
Geraldine Slattery, BHP President Australia, expressed the significance of this partnership, saying, “Our ambition to electrify our light vehicle fleet and lower greenhouse gas emissions across our operations depends on enabling technology that can only be achieved through collaborations like this, with leading suppliers like Toyota.”
With 5000 light vehicles operating across BHP sites in Australia, this collaboration is positioned as a key step toward fleet decarbonisation and reducing diesel dependency.
Toyota’s electric Hilux concept was first introduced in Thailand in late 2022, with the single-cab model setting the foundation for this new double-cab prototype.
The production-ready Hilux BEV is expected to launch commercially in Thailand by the end of 2025, with future expansions potentially reaching Europe, Oceania and beyond.
As the current eighth-generation Hilux, which debuted in 2017, has received facelifts in 2020 and 2024, the electric variant could align with an upcoming ninth generation, joining diesel and mild-hybrid models in Toyota’s expanding lineup.
With the Hilux BEV, Toyota is not merely entering the electric ute market but challenging it with ambitions to set benchmarks in durability and performance, proving that EVs can handle even the toughest environments.
