Tech startup Roev's long-term goal is to make its own electric vehicles. However, while there are no such models, Roev began by converting mass-produced vehicles from other manufacturers to electric traction. The first was the Toyota Hilux, the most popular car in Australia for the past six years.
The hand-built electric Toyota Hilux is currently intended for government and commercial fleets, as well as mining companies. In the future, versions for private customers may appear.
By information Drive, the Hilux electric pickup is equipped with either a 70 kWh or 100 kWh battery and one electric motor. The power reserve is about 400 kilometers.
Roev has not yet disclosed the cost of converting a diesel pickup truck to an electric one. Industry experts estimate that such an operation could cost more than AU$40,000 ($28,050) in addition to the initial cost of AU$60,000 ($42,080) directly on the vehicle.
It should be noted that serial electric pickups are still rare even on a global scale. Nevertheless, large companies are beginning to develop this segment as well. In particular, Ford is already selling its F-150 Lightning in the US.
