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We drive New Zealand's first all-electric ute

Thursday, 24 February 2022

LDV has beaten the pack to become the first to offer an all-electric ute for sale in New Zealand.
LDV has beaten the pack to become the first to offer an all-electric ute for sale in New Zealand.
The initial T60 EV to land here is a left-hand-drive Chinese market model, so wears Maxus branding.
The initial T60 EV to land here is a left-hand-drive Chinese market model, so wears Maxus branding.
Ground clearance is reduced by the EV powertrain and battery, but then the EV is RWD, so not intended for off-road action.
Ground clearance is reduced by the EV powertrain and battery, but then the EV is RWD, so not intended for off-road action.

Electric commercial van champion LDV will be the first brand to release an all-electric ute into the New Zealand market. We drove the locally registered left hand drive pilot vehicle to get a taste of things to come.

The T60 EV is based on the diesel version, so electrical bits and pieces take up the space where the ICE engine would go, even though the motor is on the rear axle. No frunk here.
The T60 EV is based on the diesel version, so electrical bits and pieces take up the space where the ICE engine would go, even though the motor is on the rear axle. No frunk here.

Make me an instant expert: what do I need to know?

LDV (a division of SAIC Motor) has experienced a whopping 167 per cent year-on-year growth in New Zealand’s van market which has resulted in it being firmly number two with a 32.5 per cent share of the pie.

**READ MORE:

The T60 EV gets a fairly spartan interior compared to the diesel model.
The T60 EV gets a fairly spartan interior compared to the diesel model.

* Great Wall's electric ute set to offer 450km of range

* How far away are electric utes?

We drove the T60 EV along with the rest of LDV’s electric commercial range.
We drove the T60 EV along with the rest of LDV’s electric commercial range.

* All-electric LDV ute coming next year

* SAIC planning electrified ute?

Keeping things simple: a twist dial takes care of reverse, neutral and drive.
Keeping things simple: a twist dial takes care of reverse, neutral and drive.

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Meanwhile, in China SAIC has committed US$45.78bn to hi-tech innovation and EVs for the next five years, and with 733,000 NEV (New Energy Vehicle) global unit sales, it is ranked first in China and second in the world.

But back to electric utes. Last year, 40,000 utes were sold in NZ and despite the apparent desire, not one of them came battery powered - until now.

Expect that range to plummet when the T60 is pulling its meagre 1000kg maximum braked towing weight.
Expect that range to plummet when the T60 is pulling its meagre 1000kg maximum braked towing weight.

Full specs of the new EV T60 will be released over time, but in terms of styling, the LDV EV T60 is based on its fossil-fuelled sibling, the bi-turbo T60. Proportionally, the double cab ute is 5365mm long, 1900mm wide and 1809mm tall, with rear tray dimensions of 1485x1510x530 and a payload of 900kg.

It comes with a dominant front grille and LED DRL’s, black side steps and rides on 245/70R16HT rubber with black alloy wheels.

The cabin is less remarkable. It’s more utilitarian than their other T60 utes, with fewer knobs and dials, however, the list of safety and driving aids is still up there including adaptive cruise control, however more details will come over time.

The colour infotainment screen is recessed into the dash and the instrument cluster offers up analogue dials with speed, power and battery level info. They are separated by a portrait style digital TFT screen that shows mileage and which drive mode is selected.

The 88.5kWh battery pack is located under the cabin and hangs quite low, which could possibly compromise ground clearance, albeit only slightly, but given the T60 EV is rear-wheel drive, it’s not intended for heading too far off-road anyway.

Charging and usage details have yet to be released but CCS connection has been confirmed.

It has a smart electric motor configuration and regeneration is variable via the drive mode buttons on the centre console (Eco, Normal and Power), and it is rated to 325 kilometres of ‘real world’ range. In fact, according to an LDV spokesperson, they travelled from Auckland to Taupo in a full charge and arrived with 70km left in the battery.

In terms of towing capabilities the EV T60 is rated to just one tonne (braked), which is not what a lot of potential electric ute buyers would want to hear. Also, this of course will affect the vehicle’s range, with LDV adding a disclaimer in the brochure saying that “towing max weight reduces range by 50 per cent”. Which is quite a lot.

Where did you drive it?

We played ‘follow the leader’ in a cavalcade that included LDV’s other EV range, the eDelivery 3 and 9 vans, on a 120km loop beside lake Taupo, with eight of us taking stints with each model.

My stint in the T60 came on the section between Atiamuri Dam and Whakamaru, which included some nice open straights, various bends and some downhill stretches for regen.

Seat comfort and visibility is fine, with the former coming with red contrast stitching and reasonable side bolstering. Drive selection is a simple twist of the dial from N to D (there is no P) and away you go.

Despite being an EV and therefore having all its 310Nm of torque available from the get go, the EV T60 doesn’t have blistering off the mark speed, but you are up to road legal speed limits before you know it.

Steering feels nicely weighted with a positive response in the curves. Behind the scenes the double independent front and leaf spring rear suspension is a little bit jiggly and would benefit from a bit of weight in the tub, but overall sits well on the road.

The drive mode selection is slightly unusual with both of the two buttons Eco and Power being able to ‘second push’ to Normal. There is a noticeable difference between the modes, even when keeping the accelerator in a fixed position, with both speed and regen aggression varying.

What’s the pick of the range?

Range pricing and specs have yet to be released, but depending on your requirements, grabbing the model with the $8,625 rebate after purchase would be a great incentive.

Why would I buy it?

This is the first and currently only BEV ute, and for those looking for ute capabilities and features but wanting to stay away from the petrol pumps, then this is it.

Why wouldn’t I buy it?

On the whole, utes have become luxurious play things, the EV T60 is less refined in that way, plus lugging greater loads either in the tub or on the tow-bar will reduce range.

The EV T60 is expected to arrive in time for summer this year, however, the order books are open right now on LDV New Zealand’s website, where you can secure one with a refundable $1000 deposit and you are then allocated your number in the queue. Seven orders were taken before we’d even finished the drive.