The van you see in the photos is not a previous generation Toyota HiAce, but the fully electric Joylong E6 from China that is already available in the Australian market. In fact, the new model is the EV variant of the ICE-powered Joylong A-Series vans which have been produced in China since 2009.
The design similarities between the
Joylong and the Toyota are more than evident, with the cab-over vans looking
almost identical. In fact, the only difference we can spot is the slightly more
aggressive angle of the headlights, the grille and the slightly different
taillights. From the official photos, we can see that the Joylong is available
with two different bumper designs. Still, Australians who are used to seeing
HiAce vans roaming their streets will probably mistake the Joylong for a
Toyota.
Initially, we thought that the Chinese
company had an agreement for licensing the design since the parts look
interchangeable. However, according to Wikipedia, Joylong has never worked with
Toyota, unlike other Chinese automakers who are indeed producing and selling
rebadged HiAce vans. We guess that Toyota doesn’t care anymore, having sold so
so many units of the fifth-gen HiAce (H200) since 2004. Moreover, the Japanese
automaker revealed an all-new sixth-gen HiAce (H300) in 2019.
Back to the Joylong E6, it has an
identical footprint with the ICE-powered A6, measuring 5,990 mm long, 1,880 mm wide, and 2,320 mm tall, with a
stretched wheelbase of 3,720 mm. It is available in 12-seater
and 14-seater variants, with the former being the maximum one can drive in
Australia with a regular driver’s licence. The interior is also a blatant copy
of the HiAce, with standard equipment including a small infotainment
touchscreen, a reversing camera, independent front and rear air-conditioning,
electrically deployable side steps, foldable rear seats, and a six-speaker
sound system. Safety is rather basic, with front airbags, ABS, EBD, and disc
brakes – don’t expect to find any ADAS in a Joylong since this is clearly no VW
ID. Buzz Robotaxi.
In terms of powertrain, the E6 is fitted
with an electric motor producing 80 hp and up to 382 Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to the rear axle. The 86.1 kWh
liquid-cooled battery is good for an advertised range of 300 km in
the urban cycle, and 280 km on the highway with a full load.
Joylonng says that the battery pack is positioned low in the center, which
makes “cornering a lot safer than in a normal bus”. Charging takes five hours
in a 20 amp circuit and less than four hours in a 32 amp circuit.
For Australian buyers who are interested
in buying a Joylong E6, prices start from AUD$ 90,000 (US$ 64,867). The model
is produced in the Jiangsu Province in China, but the company suggests it has
been thoroughly tested on Australian soil.
