HiLux EV ready to take on Aussie ute market

AUSTRALIA’S leading electric vehicle leasing, rental and subscription company, CarBon, has joined forces with electric vehicle conversion specialists, Roev, to launch the country’s first all-electric HiLux four-wheel drive ute.

Following a pricing announcement made late last year, this week’s announcement recognises what the duo says is “escalating demand from the resources and construction sectors” that will see it produce over 1000 converted HiLux EVs within its first 12 months.

To date, CarBon has secured almost half that number of vehicles to supply to commercial fleet operators it says are “eager to transition to zero emissions transport”. Many of those vehicles will take part in a major pilot program within mining and resources operations centred in the northwest of Western Australia.

“Organisations across the board are facing increasing pressure to transition their light commercial fleets to meet ESG targets, but until now there hasn’t been a four-wheel drive electric ute available; the arrival of the Roev Electric 4x4 HiLux has changed that,” said CarBon founder and CEO, Scott Gillespie.

“Another key concern is testing and safety – and this is where Roev is leading the market in the electric conversion space. Roev’s best-practice systems, testing and processes ensure each conversion kit is safe, tailored and seamlessly integrates with the Hilux’s existing structural integrity and standard safety systems.”

Mr Gillespie said commercial EVs provided a significant opportunity to reduce Australia’s emissions.

“In 2022 the transport sector made up 19 per cent of emissions, but without intervention, it’s projected to be Australia’s largest source of emissions by 2030. The HiLux is Australia’s best-selling ute and every converted Roev 4x4 Electric HiLux has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by over 100 tonnes through its usable lifespan.”

Mr Gillespie’s sentiments were echoed by his counterpart at Roev, Noah Wasmer, who said the demand for commercial EVs far outweighs current supply and that Australian fleet operators are looking for a range of solutions to electrify their vehicles.

“There is huge demand for light commercial EVs in Australia, particularly in the fleet market where businesses are racing to decarbonise,” he said.

“Electric conversions provide an additional option to accelerate this transition and we’ve been working very closely with fleets to ensure the vehicles out-perform expectations.”

The ROEV EV Fleet Program allows fleet customers the opportunity to convert their existing Toyota HiLux to 100 per cent battery electric power from $48,990 plus GST.

ROEV currently offers packages for 4x2 and 4x4 variants with two battery pack options: The Standard Pack, which delivers up to 240km of driving range; or the Extended Pack, which offers as much as 360km of driving range.

All ROEV conversions are safety certified and compatible with all integrated vehicle safety systems. Charging is via an 11kW onboard Type 2 AC charger or 80kW CCS DC fast charger.

Additionally, ROEV says it is committed to creating what it calls “powerwalls on wheels” by offering V2L (vehicle to load) capability from its products. Each ROEV conversion will allow users to power their tools and equipment via a 240V/20A power outlet.

The ROEV 4x4 All Electric HiLux will be available to purchase, lease or subscribe through CarBon from February 2024.