Australia’s SEA in $1 billion deal to electrify 8,500 Hilux and Landcruisers for miners
Victorian based electric vehicle specialist SEA Electric is partnering with Europe’s Mevco in a landmark $1 billion deal to supply 8,500 electrified Toyota Hilux and Lancruiser vehicles to the mining industry.
SEA Electric CEO Tony Fairweather says the deal is the largest of its kind in the world and marks a significant shift to electrified transport for commercial vehicles in the mining industry.
The conversions will take place at SEA’s Dandenong 4000 square metre factory, which will grow to 8000 square metres as SEA expands to the neighbouring property. At capacity they aim to convert up to 4000 vehicles per year.
The commitment by the two companies is to convert the 8,500 Hilux and Landcruiser vehicles in five years. They say that more than half of the 2023 allocation have been pre-sold, and demonstration models available in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
The converted Hilux and Landcruiser models will include SEA Electric’s proprietary SEA-Drive power-system, providing leading all-electric range, driving performance with zero local emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide.
The vehicles will come in 4×4 and 4×2 configurations and can be specified with two SEA-Drive options, an 88kWh battery providing 380km of range and a 60kWh battery delivering up to 260km. SEA says that the vehicles can be charged to 80% with DC fast charging.
Batteries will come with a five-year factory warranty and technology has been tested on over 2.5 million kilometers in eight countries.
The electric conversion market is now a major part of the electric vehicle industry, with another start-up Roev – founded by two former Atlassian executives – reporting a full initial order book for their plans to convert Hilux and Ranger utes for the Australian commercial market.
SEA, which has built a solid business providing electrified versions of trucks and delivery vans, says mining workers will benefit enormously from the all-electric upgrade because workers will no longer be exposed to the toxic fumes, noise and heat that is associated with diesel work utes.
“This is a pivotal partnership for the mining industry,” said Matt Cahir, the Mevco CEO.
“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.”
“Across all industries, companies now understand they have a role to play in ensuring they are a part of the solution to the environmental problems we face,” said Tony Fairweather, SEA Electric Founder & CEO.
“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.”
Tony Fairweather told The Driven: “The appetite is huge across all aspects of mining” and that Mevco is has a range of potential international customers.
Initially the conversions will involve the removal of diesel engines and transmissions before SEA starts importing “rolling gliders” which are basically vehicles without the ICE components.
SEA’s US facility has orders to convert 1400 Hino trucks and has also started converting some American yellow school busses to fully electric as part of the Biden administration’s US$5.5 billion plan to convert all 550,000 US school buses by 2030.
Source: thedriven.io
