For Cleaner Mines, This Company Converts Its SUVs to Electric
This page is translated from the original post "Pour des mines plus propres, cette entreprise convertit ses 4×4 à l’électrique" in French.
- 23/01/2023 14:00
To reduce the CO2 impact of utility vehicle fleets, the Australian company will electrify 8,500 Toyota Hi-Lux and Land Cruiser models.
If traditional 4x4s are now leaving our regions due to the fiscal shock they face, they continue to be popular among Japanese brands in countries with harsh weather conditions or simply for companies that need rugged and reliable vehicles.
At Toyota, alongside more environmentally friendly hybrid models (Yaris, Prius, Auris, C-HR) or plug-in hybrids (RAV4), the iconic Hi-Lux pick-up and Land Rover 4x4s are still available in the catalog.
The Toyota Hi-Lux is powered by a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine producing 150 hp, while the Toyota Land Cruiser features a 2.8-liter diesel engine with 204 hp. However, it is clear that these diesel-fueled engines no longer have a good reputation, and to improve their image, some companies are looking to electrification.
This is timely, as Australian company SEA Electric has specialized in this field since 2017 by transforming thermal models into electric models using patented technology.
“With the SEA-Drive® power supply system, we have developed a technology that is perfectly adaptable to a wide range of utility vehicle tasks, which have traditionally been the domain of diesel engines. Thanks to MEVCO, the mining industry will now have access to cutting-edge technology, offering optimal performance and total cost of ownership benefits, all while prioritizing durability” announces Sea Electric.
Interesting ranges
Sea Electric, in collaboration with Mevco (a system integrator specialized in light electric utility vehicles), has focused on transforming 4×4 and 4×2 diesel models, offering two types of batteries: 88 kWh with a range of 380 km and 60 kWh with a range of 260 km. Fast charging is also available, allowing to recover 80% of the charge in less than an hour. Lastly, a 5-year warranty is provided on the batteries.
The mining industry, known for its CO2 emissions and pollutant outputs, should thus benefit from a reduction in its environmental impact, thanks to a fleet of 8,500 electric utility models.
Read also: Toyota explores electric and hydrogen retrofitting
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