Hyundai to offer mid-sized electric trucks in Australia this year

Australia’s roads are about to get a teensy bit more electrified, with the Hyundai Mighty electric truck set to join the manufacturers growing fleet of EVs by mid-2023.

The zero-emission Mighty is a mid-size truck with a steel bed and an approximate cargo capacity of between one and 3.5 tonnes. It comes with a 114.5 kWh battery that feeds its 120kW drive motor, and has a recharge capability of 10% to 100% in under 70 minutes.

The truck has a range of 240 km on a full charge, including range extension with energy recuperation in ECO mode.

The new truck will join the brand’s other EVs the Kona Electric, IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, with expressions of interest to be directed to Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) direct.

The Mighty Electric is the brand’s next commercial motor fleet offering after its XCIENT Fuel Cell, the brand’s first ever hydrogen-powered truck.

According to Hyundai, heavy vehicles make up only 4% of Australia’s national vehicle fleet but they’re responsible for 25% of all vehicle emissions in the country.

Electrifying heavy vehicle fleets is a priority consideration for the Australian Government and industry. In December 2022, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced $20 million in funding to Global Express to build its ‘Depot of the Future’, integrating BEVs within its logistics and transport operations. The Agency also provides grants for commercial EV charging infrastructure  through its Future Fuels Program.

Hyundai says this latest truck is another step in its transition towards carbon neutrality by 2045. The brand has previously committed to ending sales of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035.

Climate Council, in its 2022 Race to Zero report, found that Hyundai ranked seventh out of Australia’s twelve major car manufacturers for its progress towards zero emissions, coming in well below other traditional manufacturers like Volvo, Ford and Volkswagen but outcompeting Kia, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi.

“We are excited to announce Mighty electric truck for Australia as a key step in driving growth in emissions-free commercial vehicles,” Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Executive Officer Ted Lee said.

“Mighty electric will bolster our growing EV line-up and underlines Hyundai’s continuing commitment to developing sustainable mobility solutions.”

The Mighty electric comes with all the high-tech safety features you’d expect from a shiny new vehicle, including forward collision-avoidance assistance, lane departure warning system, electronic stability control and electronic air brake system.

Production for Australia is set to start in Q2 2023, with final specs and pricing confirmed closer to launch.