2025 HiLux Revo electric ute concept previews production EV

October: Toyota EPU ute concept revealed

Toyota is getting serious about booting up an electric ute, although this one is of a unibody design.

August: HiLux Revo concept revealed

“It looks good enough to be a production car but it's most definitely a concept”, said Sean Hanley, Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia VP sales, marketing and franchise operations of the HiLux Revo concept on display.

First shown in December 2022, the electric HiLux Revo concept made its way to Melbourne (via a Fremantle Port) as an example of how Toyota plans to reach zero emissions by 2050.

“A masterpiece of technology and a clear demonstration of how advanced we are in relation to BEVs. What I can't tell you, is when, or even if this car will make it to Australia as a production model”, said Hanley.

“What I can tell you is that we are optimistic, and we’ll definitely pursue the opportunity to bring such a vehicle to our market in the future, should it become available. So much so that our local evaluation engineers have already been putting this very vehicle through its paces – and they're impressed.”

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It didn’t take long for Hanley to admit the electric HiLux Revo’s shortcomings for Australia.

“As you'd expect, with a Hilux from Thailand, this concept for you is a short-range, city-focused focused BEV. It's two-wheel drive with a battery that's probably similar in capacity to the BZ4x.

“There’s a swag of Toyota-owned technology under the skin that we're not ready to reveal today”, added Hanely.

“Given the enormous challenges we face in electrifying commercial vehicles, it seems to make sense that we start with an electric vehicle for the on-road market. In fact, I can imagine the day perhaps a few years from now, when such a vehicle could help transform the E-mobility landscape in many countries.”

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With its short range and city focus, the eventual production version of the HiLux Revo concept is likely to be snapped up by mining and other fleets looking to lower their carbon footprints – the same outfits buying the $93K LDV eT60.

“Of course, what I'm really hanging out for is exactly the same thing that everybody's asking the question about, and that is a load-carrying trailer-towing remote area off-road HiLux 4x4 with zero tailpipe emissions. What a vehicle that would be – and it's possible,” said Hanley.

“Honestly, who’s gonna buy a vehicle to go off-road with, tow with, and have 800km [driving range] if it’s going to be $100,000 and doesn't do half?” He added.

The Revo is definitely a vehicle for business and not the private lifestyle buyer. A future solid-state battery HiLux, or FCEV-powered ute, could be a long-term solution.

Our original story, below, continues unchanged

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August 14: HiLux Revo spied at Freemantle port

It’s no secret that Toyota is interested in electrifying the HiLux ute – Australia’s best-selling vehicle.

Another HiLux update is on the way next year with the addition of mild-hybrid boost, but with massive mining fleets needing to cut emissions rapidly, Toyota needs to catch up on the clean-up with a mass-production electric ute.

Spotted at a port in Fremantle, Western Australia, the HiLux pictured is a single cab ‘Revo’ concept. With its grille blanked out and a CCS2 charging port where the diesel filler would be, this is a battery-electric pick-up.

Akio Toyoda unveiled the concept in December 2022 as a look at the future of commercial utes.

There’s no word on range, charging speed, or pricing on the new vehicle, but it’s certainly aimed more at the commercial buyer than the private.

4X4 Australia understands it’s here for internal review. Relevant mining-centric events, including the Advancing Net Zero Mining Conference held on August 29-30 in WA, may have given Toyota extra incentive to drum up interest from relevant buyers.

Currently, there is only one factory-made battery-electric ute available in Australia – the unbelievably expensive LDV eT60. The Chinese-made ute has a captive brand-new market, and Toyota will be looking to eat into this space with an electric HiLux.

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You can buy a BEV HiLux, only the battery isn't installed at a Toyota factory – it's done right here in Oz

Whether an electric HiLux will come about in a similar way to the LDV T60 in the ute’s current form to satisfy industry customers, or whether Toyota will wait for the next-gen HiLux in 2025 is yet to be confirmed.

There are also outfits converting existing diesel-powered Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger utes to electric vehicles, and they’re finding success with mining customers.

One such company is ROEV, and a conversion that brings about 360km driving range from a 96kWh battery pack costs $53,990 to $57,990 plus the base vehicle – so about $90K all in when using a new HiLux 4x2 Hi-Rider as a starting point.

Toyota has also been trialling in-house EV-converted 70 Series single-cab utes since around 2021 for mining applications. Expect more information on the electric HiLux Revo concept shortly as it continues on a tour around Australia.