Toyota has unveiled a new variant of its upcoming battery-electric Hilux in the form of a pickup truck bus, set to undergo testing in Thailand, at the Bangkok International Motor Show. Given that pickups constitute about 50% of all new car sales in Thailand, the significance of this model’s debut in the nation is evident. The Toyota Hilux Revo BEV prototype showcased in Bangkok has been converted into what’s known locally as a ‘songthaew.’ These vehicles are very common in Thailand and usually take the form of pickup trucks that have had their beds converted into large seating areas. They are a popular means of shared transport across much of the country and are also frequently used as a form of private transport for hotels and resorts.
The automaker will roll out 12 of these
Hilux Revo BEVs on the streets of tourist hotspot Pattaya, located
approximately 90 minutes southeast of Bangkok. While Toyota has been very open
about the development process of the Hilux Revo BEV, it hasn’t provided any
important technical details about the truck’s electric powertrain. A handful of
media outlets in Australia had the chance to test out a prototype last year and
speculate that it has a similar 71.4 kWh battery pack to the bZ4X. Range
details also remain unknown, but Toyota is said to be targeting around 200 km.
It is unclear what other markets could
receive an electric version of the Hilux, but it may launch in a host of
countries throughout South East Asia and Oceania. The market for electric
pickups of this size remains small and before the Hilux BEV launches, some
reports suggest that Toyota may test the electrified truck market with a hybrid,
instead of all-electric, version.
