As T&B News revealed exclusively earlier this week, Hyundai has confirmed it is getting back into the truck business in Australia and is set to launch a battery electric version of its Mighty Light duty truck in Australia around the middle of this year.
The company made the announcement today saying the light duty zero emission is set to join its growing local electrified passenger vehicle line-up.
As flagged in the earlier story, current distributor Hyundai Trucks Australia (Peninsula Hyundai Trucks & Bus), will continue as the local importer of diesel Hyundai commercial vehicles, while the factory subsidiary Hyundai Motor Company Australia, the current distributor of Hyundai passenger vehicles and vans will handle the importation and distribution of all future EV and hydrogen-powered trucks into the Australian market.
HMCA said in its statement that the launch of the electric Mighty is a continuation of Hyundai’s sustainable commercial vehicle momentum, and follows on from its Xcient Hydrogen Fuel Cell truck, the brand’s first-ever hydrogen-powered heavy truck, currently deployed in Switzerland, California and recently in New Zealand.
Hyundai claims the Mighty electric will have an estimated laden range of approximately 240km and is aimed as a zero-emission workhorse for metropolitan and last-mile deliveries.
The electric Hyundai Mighty will have a 120kW, 320Nm electric motor and uses a 114.5kWh battery system with rapid charging capability which the company claims can take it from 0 per cent charge to 100 per cent in under 70 minutes.
HMCA said it is studying the long-haul, heavy load Xcient Fuel Cell prime mover for a potential trial in Australia saying that the Mighty’s electric capabilities perfectly complement those of the Hydrogen Xcient.
Hyundai pointed out Heavy vehicles make up only four percent of the national vehicle fleet, but that internal combustion engine diesel powered heavy vehicles are responsible for 25 percent of all vehicle emissions in Australia, claiming that this means each Mighty electric ‘will have a disproportionately large impact on total emissions reduction’.
The company says that the zero-emission Mighty electric will join its electric passenger car range, including the Kona Electric, Ioniq 5 and the upcoming Ioniq 6 state-of-the art EVs,
The HMCA says that expressions of interest in the new electric Mighty will be coordinated directly through the company.
HMCA’s CEO, Ted Lee said the arrival of this efficient and effective electric truck will mark another important step towards Hyundai Motor Company’s global ambition to be carbon neutral in products and operations by 2045.
“We are excited to announce Mighty electric truck for Australia as a key step in driving growth in emissions-free commercial vehicles,” Ted Lee said.
“Mighty electric will bolster our growing EV line-up and underlines Hyundai’s continuing commitment to developing sustainable mobility solutions,” he said.
Hyundai said that in addition to its efficient EV technology the Mighty electric represents the latest in cab, including comfort and convenience features such as a digital dash display, a multi-function steering wheel and a suspended driver’s seat.
Hyundai says that Mighty electric will come with an extensive suite of safety technology features including Forward Collision-avoidance Assist, Lane Departure Warning System, Electronic Stability Control and Electronic Air Brake System.
In announcing the spec of the Mighty electric that will be available later this year HMCA says it will be a Light Duty Truck in the 3.5 to eight tonne GVM sector and will boast an approximate cargo capacity between one and 3.5 tonne, depending on the variant and upper body specification
It says that from launch it will be available in a single 7.3 tonne GVM variant, in 4×2 configuration with a 3,300mm wheelbase.
The company added that it will be available as a bare cab-chassis, or with a tray or Pantech body with either regular or refrigerated versions being offered for Australian customers, while a tipper variant is also currently under study.
The company said that Mighty electric production for Australia is scheduled to start in Q2 2023, saying that final specifications and pricing to be confirmed closer to launch.
The company said that customers can register their interest in Mighty electric at:
https://www.hyundai.com/au/en/cars/coming-soon/ev-mighty-truck
