WA-based mining giant Mineral Resources is about to take delivery of its first electric Toyota Hilux ute and LandCruiser vehicle as part of its efforts to dump diesel vehicles and cut emissions.
The miner’s new electric trucks are being retrofitted by Australian electric conversion specialist SEA Electric, which has set a target of converting 8,500 Hilux utes and LandCruisers over the next five years for the mining industry as part of deal with startup Mining Electric Vehicle Company (MevCo).
The conversion of popular Toyota vehicles is happening well ahead of the car giant’s own electrification plans. Toyota unveiled its first ever electric ute in December, the Hilux Revo BEV, in Bangkok, and has said it will convert 1,000 of its Hilux utes to electric in 2023, but it is now reviewing its EV strategy following the announced resignation of CEO Akio Toyoda.
Major deal with MEVCO
Mineral Resources did not say how many vehicles it is buying from SEA nor how much it is paying, but SEA has said its deal with MevCo is worth around $1 billion, which works out to be about $118,000 per vehicle.
The conversion involves removing the utes’ engines and replacing them with SEA-Drive direct-drive electric motor. Trucks can be fitted with either a 60kWh pack with up to 260km of claimed driving range, or a larger 88kWh unit which is said to be capable of up to 380km.
Mineral Resource is buying the larger battery size, which can be charged up to 80 per cent in less than one hour.
“MinRes has a plan to transition to a low-carbon future and cutting our reliance on diesel is central to achieving this goal,” says MinRes CEO of mining services Mike Grey.
“Our MEVCO electric utes are just one of the many ways we’re driving towards net zero and an exciting step in our decarbonisation journey.”
The miner has a net zero emissions by 2050 target and plans to use the electric utes at various mine operations across Western Australia, including at the Koolyanobbing iron ore mine in the Yilgarn. The utes follow the adoption of an electric light truck two years ago, and a plan to transition road trains at its Onslow Iron project from diesel to electric.
Toyota missing out
The only company not benefiting from the electrification process is Toyota, which has effectively admitted that it made a mistake ignoring the electric vehicle trend for so long by bringing in a new CEO and introducing a new line of battery electric cars with a new platform.
However, this new range is unlikely to be delivered before 2027-28 target, meaning it may have left its run too late as car makers around the world deepen their electric offerings already in the market.
Toyota’s first attempt at an EV, the BZ4X, has been subject to several recals to fix problems that could lead to the risk of the wheels falling off.
Rachel Williamson is a science and business journalist, who focuses on climate change-related health and environmental issues.