The pick-up worth waiting for: all-new battery electric Hilux is a winner in the first Van Reviewer Awards
Good things come to those who wait and where the world’s best pick-ups are concerned it’s the all-new battery electric Toyota Hilux that holds the greatest promise. That’s the verdict of Van Reviewer which has honoured the upcoming BEV with the Best Pick-up to Wait For title in the first annual awards presented by the consumer LCV news, information and advice website.
Announcing the award today, George Barrow, Van Reviewer Editor, said: “What makes the Hilux BEV so significant is not just that it’s electric pick-up, but that it is a Hilux. Toyota has approached the tricky task of electrifying a pick-up truck and stayed true to its beliefs and those of its customers, that the Hilux is a tough and uncompromising off-road vehicle. Adding a battery hasn’t changed that.
“The Toyota Hilux BEV is without doubt a truck that buyers should be considering this year and a pick-up to wait for.”
The Hilux BEV will be part of the all-new ninth generation Hilux range, revealed for the first time in November last year and presented in Europe for the first time last week at the Brussels Motor Show. In the UK, the all-electric Hilux will be introduced from June this year.
About the Hilux BEV
The introduction of the first battery electric Hilux creates a new proposition: a version of the “unbreakable” pick-up with zero tailpipe emissions. In introducing full electric power, Toyota has ensured the qualities that define Hilux and underpin its enduring success are retained, equipping it to meet the demands of business customers who require Quality, Durability and Reliability, together with serious off-road capability, but need to operate with zero CO2.
The Hilux BEV uses a 59.2kWh lithium-ion battery and front and rear eAxles to secure permanent all-wheel drive. The system develops 205Nm of torque at the front axle and 268Nm at the rear. Final WLTP homologation data show up to 160 miles of driving range in the combined cycle, and up to 236 miles in the city cycle. The Hilux BEV offers 715kg payload and 1.6-tonne towing capacity.
The model shares the same practical body-on-frame construction as other Hilux versions, with its BEV system providing smooth, effortless and silent power delivery. Optimal weight balance, electric power steering (to be standard across all Hilux models) and suspension engineering contribute to stable, secure and comfortable performance, while unique to BEV variant shift by wire technology allows for smooth gear changing.
The electric powertrain, including the battery unit, has been packaged and installed so that superior off-road performance is maintained: ground clearance is 212mm and maximum wading depth matches other Hilux versions at 700mm. A Multi-Terrain Select system has been developed specifically for use in a BEV, adapting braking and torque to provide enhanced control in challenging conditions.
ENDS
