Melbourne company to supply electric Toyota HiLux, LandCruisers for the mines

Melbourne-born electric truck conversion company SEA Electric has signed a memorandum of understanding with MEVCO to supply all-electric Toyota HiLux and LandCruiser utes to use in the Australian mining sector.

MEVCO, which specialises in electrifying mining fleets, has committed to ordering 8500 units over the next five years as part of a partnership worth almost $1 billion.

More than half of the 2023 allocation has already been pre-sold, with demonstrators available in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

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Toyota BHP electric LandCruiser

SEA-Electric HiLux and LandCruiser specs

The converted diesel-to-battery electric utes are available in various ‘mining-specific designs’ with 4x4 and 4x2 drivetrains, and adopt either the SEA-Drive 60 or 70 system for both models.

All batteries use the common nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistry, have a claimed life cycle of up to 10 years, and are backed by a five-year warranty.

Both electric drive units feature vehicle-to-grid (V2G) bidirectional charging capabilities as standard, while DC fast charging capability is optional, which can replenish both batteries to 80 per cent (from an unknown starting point) in less than an hour.

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Toyota BHP electric LandCruiser

The HiLux and LandCruiser EVs have a system warranty of three-years/150,000km (whichever comes first).

“[This partnership] enables the world’s leading EV technology for heavy and light commercial trucks to be commercialised on a scale that makes sense for the bespoke needs of the mining sector,” MEVCO CEO Matt Cahir said.

“SEA Electric’s unique architecture is perfectly suited for the task, with the system’s high-torque characteristics ideally fit for purpose.”

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Toyota LandCruiser 70 cab chassis

EVs for the mines

By going electric, fleets benefit from a more comfortable and healthier work environment with no noise, fumes, heat or vibrations, and lower maintenance and operating costs.

Converted Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series EVs are a growing hit with more landing in Australian mines.

New Zealand company Voltra was first to produce the eCruiser, a retrofitted electric LandCruiser 70 which was trialled in an Australian underground mine, while German player Huber is selling its LandCruiser retrofit kit to mining company suppliers in Australia via Miller Technology.

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All-electric Voltra eCruiser

VivoPower also signed a letter of intent with Toyota Australia to develop electric conversion kits for the LandCruiser in 2021, and mining giant BHP has tested a single-cab electric LandCruiser (dubbed the Workhorse EV) at a nickel mine in Western Australia.

Beyond the mines, Brisbane-based startup ROEV is offering EV conversions for other fleets wanting to give 2016 or older Toyota HiLux and Ford Rangers a new lease on life, priced from $47,990 on top of the vehicle cost.

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