SEA Electric in $1bn order to electrify Hilux and Land Cruisers

Electric truck and van drive train manufacturer SEA Electric has partnered with US systems integrator MEVCO to electrify 8,500 Hilux and Landcruiser Models for the mining industry.

In an order that has a total value of $1 billion, the two companies will see specialist all-electric Hilux and Landcruiser models made available for the mining industry, with MEVCO making a commitment to order 8,500 units over the next five years.

More than half of the 2023 allocation of the Australian-developed battery-electric vehicles have been pre-sold, with demonstration models now available in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

In what the company called ‘the next step in its journey to electrify the world’s commercial vehicle fleet’, the vehicles will be fitted with SEA Electric’s proprietary SEA-Drive power-system, which offers zero local emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide.

The system has been tested in the field across eight countries with over 2.5 million kilometres of real-world use registered to date.

SEA Electric Founder & CEO Tony Fairweather said the partnership opened up possibilities for the technology on a global scale for a wide variety of applications.

Fairweather said: “With the SEA-Drive power-system, we have developed technology that is perfectly adaptable to a wide range of commercial vehicle tasks that have typically been the domain of diesel-powered engines.

“Through MEVCO, the mining industry will now be able to access cutting-edge technology, which delivers top performance and total cost of ownership prospects, all with sustainability at the forefront.

“This deal is a significant step forward in Australia and shows just what is possible when it comes to electrifying the world’s fleets.”

Available in various mining-specific designs for 4×4 and 4×2 configurations, the vehicles can be specified with two SEA-Drive options, namely an 88kWh battery which provides 380km of range, or a 60kWh battery delivering up to 260km of use.

Fast DC to DC charging is available for the system, which provides up to 80 per cent battery power in less than one hour, with a five-year factory warranty on the batteries supplied.

MEVCO is a portfolio company of RCF Jolimont – the innovation fund of mining-focused private equity managers Resource Capital Funds.

MEVCO CEO Matt Cahir said the partnership was a pivotal partnership for the mining industry.

Cahir said: “It enables the world’s leading EV technology for heavy and light commercial trucks to be commercialized on a scale that makes sense for the bespoke needs of the mining sector.

“SEA Electric’s unique architecture is perfectly suited for the task, with the system’s high-torque characteristics ideally fit for purpose.”

Picture: SEA Electric