BHP trialling Toyota Australia’s converted electric ute

Toyota Australia is announcing a local electric-vehicle pilot trial with resources giant BHP. 

The small-scale trial involves a Landcruiser 70 Series single-cab ute that has been converted to a battery-electric vehicle by Toyota Australia’s product planning and development division in Port Melbourne. 

The converted vehicle – equipped for underground mine use – will operate under full battery power and will not require any fuel to run. 

The trial will take place at a BHP Nickel West mine in Western Australia. 

Toyota Australia’s president and chief executive officer Matthew Callachor says the trial is another step the brand is taking as part of its bigger picture of a zero emissions future. 

“BHP and Toyota have demonstrated a strong relationship throughout the last 20 years, and this project is a great testament to how we can both work together as leading companies in our respective industries to change the future,” Callachor says.

“This partnership is another step in our ongoing studies into how we can reduce the emissions intensity of our light-vehicle fleet,” BHP president minerals Australia Edgar Basto says. 

Reducing our reliance on diesel at our operations will help achieve our medium-term target of reducing operational emissions by 30% by 2030,” he says.  

More information will be provided in the coming months.