Toyota Hilux fans will soon have a fully electric option to add to their garage as well
Toyota has been cautious about fully embracing the electric vehicle (EV) market, opting instead to concentrate on hybrid technologies. This strategic choice stems from Chairman Akio Toyoda’s belief that pure EVs will never surpass a 30 percent market share, leaving the prospect of a completely zero-emission future uncertain.
Despite this cautious stance, Toyota has been slowly but surely extending its lineup of non internal combustion engines (ICE) vehicles. Notably, the company has confirmed the introduction of an all-electric pickup truck for 2025. This announcement follows the unveiling of a prototype in late 2022, signalling Toyota’s gradual yet deliberate shift towards electrification.
Moreover, the vehicle in question, the Hilux Revo BEV, is slated to enter production by the end of next year. This key update was revealed by a Toyota executive in a recent interview with Reuters. The all-electric Hilux will be manufactured in Thailand, a strategic decision given that trucks represent over 50 percent of vehicle sales in the country.
The electric Hilux will compete directly with the electric Isuzu D-Max, also set to be produced in Thailand. While the initial focus for the Hilux Revo BEV is the Thai market, Toyota is exploring potential export opportunities. During the interview, specific technical details about the Hilux Revo BEV were not disclosed.
On top of that, Toyota had previously mentioned that the range would be “around 124 miles,” (about 200km) though the test cycle used for this estimate was not specified. The concept vehicle featured a floor-mounted battery, a single-cab design with a 4×2 configuration, and a long bed, mirroring the traditional Hilux model available in Thailand.
Pras Ganesh, Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Asia, highlighted a significant challenge in the development of the electric Hilux, weight management, saying, “The more range I have to put on it, the more battery I have to put on it, which means the weight of the vehicle also becomes significantly heavier, which means the loading can be much less.”
This presents a particular concern for a truck designed to carry heavy loads, as increasing battery capacity to extend range could reduce the vehicle’s practical utility. Given that approximately 200km range is relatively modest for a vehicle expected to handle substantial payloads, Toyota’s engineers are tasked with finding an optimal balance.
They must avoid installing a large, impractical battery while ensuring the truck remains functional and efficient. As Toyota continues to refine its electric vehicle technology, the automotive world will be watching to see how they address these engineering challenges and what solutions they propose for the electric Hilux Revo BEV.
