**Toyota Australia’s Product Planning and Development Division has converted a LandCruiser 70 Series to an electric vehicle**
**Workhorse EV will be trialled at a BHP mine site in Western Australia**
**Another step towards a zero emissions future for both companies**
Toyota Australia today announced a local electric-vehicle pilot trial with Australia’s leading resources company, BHP.
The small-scale trial involves a LandCruiser 70 Series single-cab ute that has been converted to a battery-electric vehicle by Toyota Australia’s Product Planning and Development division in Port Melbourne.
The converted vehicle – equipped for underground mine use – will operate under full battery power and will not require any fuel to run.
The trial will take place at a BHP Nickel West mine in Western Australia.
Toyota Australia’s President and CEO Matthew Callachor said the trial is another step Toyota is taking as part of its bigger picture of a zero emissions future.
“BHP and Toyota have demonstrated a strong relationship throughout the last 20 years, and this project is a great testament to how we can both work together as leading companies in our respective industries to change the future,” Mr Callachor said.
Edgar Basto, President, Minerals Australia, BHP said: “This partnership is another step in our ongoing studies into how we can reduce the emissions intensity of our light-vehicle fleet.
Reducing our reliance on diesel at our operations will help achieve our medium-term target of reducing operational emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.”
More information will be provided in the coming months.
Images courtesy of Toyota