As the industry looks to move away from the internal combustion engine in order to minimise carbon emissions, hybrid and electric vehicles are set to become the norm for both the passenger car and the work-ready ute segment.
While there’s only a small handful of electric utes currently available in Australia, the number of EV utes is set to rise dramatically as manufacturers implement their electric platforms, motors and batteries in one of the most popular segments of the market.
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Request a quoteLet’s take a look at some of the best electric ute options in Australia, and see what’s on the horizon for the local market.
LDV eT60
LDV made waves earlier this year with the announcement of its eT60 ute, which marked the arrival of the first all-electric mainstream ute on sale in Australia.
The eT60 comes riding on the standard T60 ute’s platform, and receives all the important hardware that buyers demand from a working-class dual-cab ute.
Underneath, there’s an 88.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack that offers a claimed 330km of driving range per charge on the WLTP test cycle, with power outputs standing at 150kW/310Nm that translate to a braked towing capacity of 1500kg.
Rivian R1T
Californian EV start-up, Rivian, has confirmed that its R1T electric ute will be arriving here in Australia in the very near future.
The R1T is one of two vehicles from the company, and offers a massive, bespoke ‘skateboard’ platform that looks perfect for work duties, off-road adventures and everything in between.
The company offers its R1T in America with a choice of three battery packs ranging from 105kWh to a massive 180kWh; the latter offering up to 644km of all-electric driving range, with pulling power supplied by no less than four electric motors.
Rivian says the R1T produces a massive 560kW of power and 1231Nm of torque, which translate to a supercar-like 0-100km/h sprint in 3.0 seconds, with braked towing capacity rated up to 5000kg in the U.S.
Ford F-150 Lightning
While Ford is yet to confirm its future plans, we do know that the company is bringing its F-150 platform to Australia next year, and the release of an already-existing product in its portfolio seems only rational as regulators clamp down on emissions.
The Ford F-150 Lightning was first unveiled specifically for the American market, which features a choice of standard and extended range variants offer range figures of between 370 - 483km per charge.
Underneath, the F-150 Lightning receives a dual electric motor setup and all-wheel drive system producing 318kW/1051Nm in the base model, increasing up to 420kW/1051Nm in the extended range.
Ford says that it is eyeing off braked towing figures of 4536kg, with payload figures standing at 907kg.
Ace Yewt
There’s an Australian start-up hoping to pioneer the only locally-produced and most affordable electric ute on the market, with the Ace Yewt set to hit production in the very near future.
It’s compact size means that the Yewt might be relegated to short hops around metropolitan areas or as an on-site workhorse, with the vehicle measuring in at 3900mm long by 1690mm tall.
Power comes supplied by a compact electric motor producing 45kW of power and 174Nm of torque, with the 23.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack offering up to 200km, with payload figures capped at 500kg.
Volkswagen Amarok Electric
While Volkswagen hasn’t put a timeline on it just yet, executives at VW have confirmed that the Amarok will gain an electrified platform in the near future, and considering just how popular the platform is here in Australia, we’ll more than likely see it here.
VW has said that it has plans for a zero-emissions variant within each member of its lineup, and considering the Amarok and Ford Ranger share a platform that is ready for a mix of electrified powertrains, we’ll more than likely see a hybrid or plug-in hybrid Amarok making way for a fully-electrified ute in the near future.
Chevrolet Silverado EV
We’ll wrap up with an electric ute from General Motors that hasn’t been confirmed for Australia at this point, but makes perfect sense for the market Down Under.
The Chevrolet Silverado EV goes head-to-head with the F-150 Lightning, with the most powerful variant kicking out 495kW of power and 1065Nm from its pair of electric motors and an all-electric driving range of 644km per charge.
GM is yet to say whether or not we’ll see the Silverado EV here in Australia, but considering that it already offers a number of Silverados, it seems likely that future models will gain an electrified setup.
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