Toyota recently celebrated 60 years of business in Thailand and a battery-electric Hilux concept vehicle was unveiled by Toyota president, Akio Toyoda.

Exactly a year ago, Toyota announced its intention to produce no less than 30 new Electric Vehicles (EVs) by the end of the decade and took the opportunity to show off 15 new concepts.

Interestingly, one of those concepts was an electric Hilux bakkie and now, a year later, a battery-electric single-cab Hilux bakkie concept has been shown. The electric Hilux concept stood alongside the IMV O Concept and was joined on stage by Toyota president, Akio Toyoda.

Note the EV-like grille as well as the charging port seen above the front left wheel arch. Sadly, no technical details for the electric Hilux concept were divulged and it remains to be seen when exactly Toyota will launch an electric Hilux.

Toyoda did, however, comment that “I am often criticised in the press because I won’t declare that the automotive industry should commit 100% to BEV (Battery Electric Vehicles). I believe we need to be realistic about when society will be able to fully adopt Battery Electric Vehicles and when our infrastructure can support them at scale. Because, just like the fully autonomous cars that we were all supposed to be driving by now, I think BEVs are just going to take longer to become mainstream than the media would like us to believe. And, frankly, BEVs are not the only way to achieve the world’s carbon neutrality goals. Personally, I would rather pursue every option, not just one option, such as emission-free synthetic fuels and hydrogen. I still believe hydrogen is as promising a technology for our future as BEV.”

Toyoda’s comment is hardly surprising as Toyota is currently researching and developing a hydrogen-powered Hilux using the firm’s second-generation fuel cell technology currently used by the Mirai.

The first hydrogen-powered Hilux prototypes are expected in 2023.

Does the idea of an electric Hilux excite you? Share your thoughts with us!

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