Feature article
Best Electric Utes Available in NZ
There once were few EV choices, but now there's many to choose from, ranging from small hatches to large SUVs.
Last updated: 6 September 2024
Electric vehicle options have improved over the past few years. Where there once were few EV choices, there are now many in both the mainstream and luxury markets, from small hatches to large SUVs. In the commercial vehicle space however, the electric choices are slim. There are a few battery-powered van options, but as for the double cab ute, there is but one available in New Zealand, that being the LDV eT60.
Is the LDV eT60 a good ute?
LDV was the first, and so far the only manufacturer, to offer an electric ute here, the e-T60. But it hasn’t been a popular choice. The e-T60 used to cost $79,990, then its price was reduced to $56,990. And presently the price is listed at $41,990.
The e-T60 has a motor integrated into the rear axle making 130kW and 310Nm. That’s less than the 2.0-litre diesel’s 160kW and 500Nm. There is no 4x4 option. With the battery pack slung underneath, ground clearance is reduced. The big 88.5kWh battery only gives a range of 325km, and that’s a quoted city driving figure, so the best possible scenario. The e-T60 is power hungry, on test the average energy consumption was stuck permanently on 29.9kWh/100km. The quoted payload for the e-T60 is 750kg, and it can tow up to 1500kg. Expect energy use to soar and range to halve when towing however. Rounding out a lacklustre performance, it has a basic safety fit out with active driver aids. Therefore, it’s an electric ute best to avoid.
Read the full LDV e-T60 review
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What other electric utes are there?
None for the New Zealand market at least. In the US, buyers of large pickups have the choice of a few battery powered models, like the Ford F-150 Lightning, the Rivian R1T, the Hummer and the much hyped Cybertruck. There is also an electric Chevrolet Silverado and a Ram planned too. However, these are all LHD at present with no firm plans to make any available with the steering wheel on the right side of the cabin.
What electric utes are coming to New Zealand?
While its first effort was poor, LDV is set to offer an all-new electric double cab in 2025. It will be the production version of its GST concept. The showroom model is unlikely to offer the hardware of the quad-motor concept, producing some 745kW with a claimed 1000km driving range. But it will be big at 5680mm long, making it bigger than Ranger. It will ride on a new electric ute platform with vastly superior range and capability than the e-T60.
Isuzu showed a D-Max BEV concept last year which is due in production in 2025. It will likely feature a 66.9kWh lithium-ion battery and two electric motors, one up front (40kW) and the other at the rear (90kW), generating a combined 130kW and 325Nm of torque. Payload and towing capacity are said to be on a par with conventional diesel-powered utes (1000kg and 3500kg braked).
Toyota has confirmed it will build a HiLux BEV in Thailand by the end of 2025. However, final production specifications, including body configuration, the number of wheels driven, power output and battery size are all to be confirmed.
JAC is a Chinese brand that is currently on sale in Australia and is likely to launch here as well. JAC will have an EV version of its T9 dual-cab ute in production late in 2024. It will have a pair of motors enabling all-wheel drive, outputting a combined 23kW and 518kW and feeding on a 88kWh battery.
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