I’ve been dreaming of an all-electric pickup (with a couple hundred miles of range) since the Ford Ranger EV of the late 1990s. This, I convinced myself, would be my ideal adventure rig. That’s because a pure-electric pickup would be both earth- and overland-friendly.
In the intervening two decades since that short-lived Ranger EV, the automotive industry has stepped up to make my dream a reality. The GMC Hummer EV, Rivian R1T, Bollinger B2, and forthcoming Ford F-150 EV, among others, are all just a few short months or years from reality.
READ MORE: RIVIAN R1T & R1S: HOW WE’D BUILD IT
If you just can’t wait for those special machines, and require an all-electric pickup truck today, I have some good news for you. A company called Miller Technology makes a pure-electric Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ79. And you can buy it today … if you live in Canada … and own a mine. These are just niggling details, though, if we’re honest.
Miller Technology removes the standard diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) and gearbox and replaces it with a 120-horsepower electric motor powered by a 46-kiloWatt-hour battery pack. Guessing from the picture Miller Technology posted of the digital dashboard, it has a range of around 90 miles. Admittedly, this isn’t a really impressive set of figures.
Remember, though, the stock diesel engine puts out a mere 128 hp. Plus, the electrified HZJ79 is 440 pounds lighter after the conversion than the original. So, while it won’t be a rip-snorting fire-breather, it won’t be a super slouch. And that range isn’t great for overlanding.
You can’t even buy one in the U.S., though. So, it’s a moot point.
Photo: Miller Technology
Nevertheless, these kinds of conversions underscore the benefit of EV drivetrain technology over ICE. The electric future is coming, my friends. Now let’s just hope Toyota creates a mean all-electric 4×4 truck of its own very soon.
Header image: Miller Technology
