Rural Life ODT: Electric Hilux
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We’re no strangers to pushing boundaries here, and our latest project might be one of our most satisfying yet. As featured in the Otago Daily Times, we’ve officially given one of New Zealand’s most iconic farm vehicles, the trusty Toyota Hilux, a fully electric second life.
The ute itself was a 1989 flat-deck Hilux—tough as nails, but well past its prime and destined for the scrap heap. Instead of letting it go to waste, we saw an opportunity to do something different. As Mike explains in the article, he got tired of waiting for the market to deliver a proper fully electric, four-wheel-drive utility vehicle. So he decided to build one himself. With the help of EV-lution in Dunedin, we took the motor and battery from a 2014 Nissan Leaf and slotted it into the Hilux’s original gearbox, installing a custom battery box under the tray. The goal wasn’t to create a million-dollar concept vehicle, but to build something practical, functional, and affordable. And above all, something that proves this kind of conversion is not only possible but makes a lot of sense.
The new electric Hilux has quickly slotted into the rhythm of farm life. It has decent range, solid torque, and handles daily tasks with no fuss. This project has been a long time coming, and there's something pretty cool about giving this classic piece of Kiwi farm culture a second life as an electric workhorse. It’s not just a cool story, it’s a symbol of what’s possible when we stop waiting for the perfect solution and start building the future ourselves. Stay tuned for some of our upcoming 4WD adventures!
You can read the full feature here.