Australian electric vehicle (EV) distributor AusEV has unveiled what it describes as Australia’s first fully electric 4×4 mining and construction ute, and which it says will beat its fossil fuel equivalents on the total cost of ownership.
The fully electric utes are actually Ford F-150 Lightnings that have been converted to right hand drive models at the company’s Brendale factory in Brisbane – recently upgraded at a cost of $14 million – and after extensive tests that made them “mine ready” for customers.
These alterations include having an extra 12volt battery for resilience, and also being able to charge that battery with solar cells mounted on the bonnet of the car.
The Ford F150 Lightning boasts a large 131 kWh battery, and can provide vehicle to load facilities that can power tools off grid, and even provide emergency power when generators or the local network is down.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is already a huge hit in the United States, but Ford hasn’t shown any signs yet of bringing a native right-hand-drive version to Australia as of yet. That has left the door open for local companies like AusEV and automotive engineering firm Advanced Manufacturing Queensland (AMQ) to step in to make the car available in Australia.
Requiring a full rebuild by AMQ to convert it to right-hand-drive, the F-150 Lightning has also been homologated so as to meet compliance requirements in overseas markets – such as Barbados and countries in the Pacific.
The mine-spec F-150 Lightnings have already undergone testing with Rio Tinto at mines in Queensland and Western Australia, according to an AusEV spokesperson, as well as with New South Wales state-owned electricity infrastructure operator Essential Energy, who used a converted Lightning as part of a successful vehicle-to-grid trial.
Ed Kocwa, the head of AusEV parent company Bosscap, says the additions such as the extra residence for the 12 volt battery are essential for mining clients. “There is no margin for error,” he tells The Driven. “And if someone leaves an accessory on, and the battery goes flat, that causes disruption and losses for the company.”
Kocwa says the big advantage of the Ford 150 Lightning – and other EVs – is the vastly reduced need for maintenance, and that is particularly important in remote and off grid areas where providing repair shops or taking the ute to a 3rd party is costly and time consuming.
“This is more than just the launch of a vehicle – it’s a statement about the future of Australian manufacturing. We are determined to lead the charge in producing worldclass right hand drive electric vehicles right here in Australia, keeping jobs local and ensuring we have a sovereign capability in the growing EV industry.”
More information and information on how to book a test drive of the converted F-150 Lightning can be found at AusEV’s website here.