Model’s developer will pitch at business first.

AN electric Hilux seems set to hit the road within a year and though probability of availability this side of the Tasman is far from clear, conceivably it seems possible as the brand undertaking the work represents here.

 In this instance, that’s not Toyota but the aftermarket specialist that has taken on the challenge of ripping out the Kiwi favourite’s fossil fueled drivetrain and replacing it with electric kit.

Melbourne-based Australian electric truck manufacturer SEA has said its Hilux EV could be less than 12 months away from launch.

The Melbourne company already has a battery-electric Toyota HiLux ute powered by its own SEA-Drive 70 powertrain, which delivers 700Nm of torque and about 300km of range (unladen) between recharges.

SEA is at least the third Australian company to reveal plans for an electric ute.

In reporting this development, Australian website carsaleas.com.au says the target for SEA’s EV ute would initially be business and government fleets rather than private buyers.

“There is significant interest in an EV HiLux and we have the technology to create one of those,” SEA Electric Asia-Pacific president Bill Gillespie told the site.

“We have significant interest from companies to do that and we are working with the Toyota group to see if we can achieve that goal.”

It says there are several reasons to go after fleets rather than private buyers; one customer equals multiple vehicles sold and there is significant pressure on government and business fleets to meet carbon emissions goals.

“There is huge demand for zero-emission utes,” Gillespie said.

SEA has been around since 2013 and has been building and selling electric trucks in Australia and overseas since 2017.

It now has its global headquarters and a truck assembly plant in California and locations in Europe and New Zealand.