Don’t look now, but the next generation of Toyota’s iconic HiAce light commercial vehicle (LCV) could run exclusively on electric power and is expected to come as early as 2025.
This is your first look at a possible electric Toyota HiAce [Image: Best Car Web]
Japanese car website Best Car Web reports that the seventh iteration of the HiAce will be a battery electric vehicle (BEV). The model will be built on the same e-TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform that underpins the Toyota bZ4X, Lexus RZ 450e, and Subaru Solterra crossovers as well as the upcoming Toyota bZ3 sedan.
An initial render shows the rumored HiAce EV as having a shorter nose than the current model, with the wedge-shaped profile toned down considerably while retaining the overall boxy shape.
The upcoming model is expected to haev the same total capacity as the current HiAce/GranAce
According to information from the website, the luggage compartment’s length on the electric HiAce will be slightly shorter, since the front seats will be moved slightly to the rear. However, since the electric powertrain allows for greater freedom in terms of packaging, the total capacity is expected to at least still be equal to the sixth generation.
The website also reports that the next versions of the Town Ace passenger van, based on the Noah/Voxy minivan, will be electrified with BEV and hybrid versions. Toyota is following through on its promise of 30 new EVs by 2030, with projected annual sales of 3.5 million by then, even though it continues development along the lines of hydrogen and alternative fuels.
Believe it or not, the fifth generation HiAce is still being sold in the Japanese market
Sales of the fifth generation HiAce continue to be brisk in Japan, despite being 18 years old. The sixth-generation model is sold alongside it in Toyota’s home market under the ‘GranAce’ moniker.
Interestingly, one company seems to have beaten Toyota to the punch where an electric HiAce is concerned. That would be Joylong and its E6 electric van, based on the Chinese automaker’s Majestic model, a HiAce clone. This is powered by an electric motor rated at 81 horsepower connected to an 86.1 kWh battery. The Joylong E6 is sold in Australia for AUD 90,000 (Php 3.46 million).
If you’re looking for a Toyota HiAce for sale in the Philippines or reading more electrifying news regarding your favorite models, visit Philkotse.com now.