Toyota Starts Trial Of Electric Hilux Prototype In Australia

Toyota Australia has announced a trial of a double-cab Hilux BEV prototype, in collaboration with mining company BHP. The zero-emission workhorse will be tested in real-life conditions for a full year, providing Toyota with valuable feedback that could contribute to the development of the upcoming production model.

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The original Toyota Hilux BEV concept was unveiled in Thailand in December 2022, featuring a single-cab bodystyle. The new prototype is based on a double chassis-cab Hilux, and it looks just like the ICE-powered version, albeit with a charging port on the front fender. The truck has also been retrofitted with a rugged front bumper, integrating extra LEDs and a bull bar.

More: Toyota Hilux Transforms Into A 6×6 Military Truck Ready For Battle

The new prototype will be deployed at BHP’s Port Hedland operations in Western Australia, dubbed one of the largest iron ore loading ports in the world. It will be used as a replacement for diesel-powered trucks, performing a “range of applications” during the 12-month trial, starting in late November.

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Toyota keeps its cards closed regarding the specifications of the electric powertrain. In fact, nearly two years after the debut of the concept, we don’t have any details about the power output of the electric motor, the battery capacity, or the estimated range of the Hilux BEV.

Matthew Callachor, President and CEO of Toyota Australia said: “Toyota has long advocated a multi-pathway approach towards decarbonization, and when we do something, we want to make sure we do it right”, adding that the trial will provide valuable insights for testing in “harsh and demanding mining environments.”

Geraldine Slattery, BHP President Australia, added: “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 around 5,000 light vehicles at our sites across Australia, we look forward to putting the Battery Electric HiLux through its paces and seeing the potential it can bring, not only to reduce diesel use in mining but eventually for all HiLux drivers too”.

The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by Toyota Australia and BHP in August 2023 to collaborate in safety, engineering, and product development, towards decarbonization.

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Electric Hilux For Mining And Private Use

This is not the first time we hear about a fully electric Hilux aiming to replace diesel-powered trucks in mining facilities. Last year, SEA Electric and MEVCO announced an AU $1 billion (US $700 million) deal for building 8,500 EVs over the next five years, based on the Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser. A similar project for a BEV-converted Hilux had been under development since 2022 by the Australian-based startup ROEV, before being scrapped in 2024 due to limited funding.

As for factory-backed programs, Toyota began testing ten FCEV prototypes of the Hilux in the UK in mid-2024, after unveiling a hydrogen prototype in September 2023.

More importantly, the first commercially available version of the fully electric truck will arrive by the end of 2025. The BEV will initially roll out in Thailand and could be followed by other markets, including Europe.

The eighth generation of the Toyota Hilux has been around since 2017 with subsequent facelifts in 2020, and 2024. This makes us believe that the fully electric variant could be based on the next-generation model. Depending on the market, the BEV will join more traditional diesel and mild-hybrid powertrain options.