Hyundai Motor Company Australia has used the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show to unveil its new 100 per cent battery electric light duty Mighty truck
The Mighty Electric marks Hyundai Australia’s return to the truck market after a number of years and an ill fated foray into the light duty diesel truck market.
A separate independent distributor continues to distribute diesel Hyundai trucks but the factory owned Hyundai Australia operation will handle all zero emission electric trucks in the future, with the addition of heavier Hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks a distinct possibility for the future.
The new Mighty Electric is a 4×2 light-duty truck, which can be configured with a tray, tipper or pantech and is aimed for last mile deliveries.
The Mighty Electric is boasts a GVM of up to 7.3 tonnes and has a claimed payload of around four tonnes (including the tray or body structure offering zero tailpipe emissions for crowded urban environments.
Hyundai says the Mighty Electric has an estimated working AER (All Electric Range) of up to 200km when fully loaded, fully charged and with air conditioning running. The company claims this figure has been validated by more than 5,000km of real-world testing in New South Wales, utilising a pre-production truck with a tray configuration.
The company says that when it is connected to an 800V ultra-rapid (DC) charger, the battery can be replenished from 8 per cent to 100 per cent in 71 minutes.
The 120kW/320Nm electric motor is powered by a 114.5kWh battery system, driving through a single-speed reduction gear transmission.
Indicative pricing suggests a retail price of around $150,000 (plus on road costs) as a cab/chassis unit, though this will be confirmed closer to the on-sale date of 1st July 2023.
The Mighty Electric will also be offered with a factory-fitted pantech or refrigerated pantech, with pricing to be confirmed.
The company says that in addition itwill offer a Genuine Accessory tray body as a cost option, which can be fitted at the port of entry, for customers looking for a built-to-go solution, while a tipper option is also under consideration.
Hyundai has been building trucks and buses since 1969, and it is understood that it has a product offering covering most market segments.
The Hyundai truck business has been heavily focused on zero-emission development for many years, with the current Mighty Electric and the forthcoming range of Xcient Fuel Cell trucks currently spearheading its global line up.
Hyundai Motor Group says that by 2030 it will have a total line-up of 31 EV models globally, and that based on EV sales, Hyundai plans to enter the global top three the same year.
The company also says it is on track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, by neutralising CO2 emissions at all stages of production and operation.
“Hyundai Motor Company Australia is delighted to welcome the Mighty Electric to the Australian market,” said CEO og Hyundai Motor Company Australia, Ted Lee.
“The zero-emission truck market is gaining momentum in Australia, and as a key driver of EV adoption in the passenger and SUV market, bringing this vehicle to local truck operators is a logical step for us,” Lee sayid.
HMCA’s corporate business sales senior manager, Damian Prescott, said there has been a lot of interest in the Mighty Electric since the company announced its impending arrival in Australia earlier this year.
“We have had numerous enquiries from a variety of councils, governments, and retail customers, as well as from fleets looking to begin their zero-emission journey,” he said.
“Undoubtedly, the Australian market will increasingly turn to zero-emission solutions such as the Mighty Electric Truck over the coming years, driven by community expectation as much as operational requirements.
“We are confident that the Mighty Electric Truck will provide a perfect stepping in point for courier fleets, councils, and local retail delivery and vocational truck operators who are keen to show that they are trying to reduce emissions in our urban areas,” Prescott said.
“We are backing this truck with a five-year/200,000km warranty, in line with ICE versions already in the market,” he added.
“It is built in a dedicated Hyundai factory, to Hyundai quality standards, and we look forward to seeing it on Australian roads.”
“The new Hyundai Mighty Electric Truck will commence sales on 1st July, and will be available nationwide through a network of experienced truck sales and service dealers,” he added.
According to Hyundai, the arrival of the first pre-production Mighty Electric to Australia triggered a local evaluation program, which to date has seen more than 5,000 km of urban, regional and highway driving, including test routes through the Blue Mountains, to verify the vehicle’s performance characteristics and capability while fully loaded.
Aside from testing the real-world battery range on a single charge, the company said that the engineering program also focused on calibrating the truck’s advanced safety technology for use on Australia roads including the Lane Departure Warning System.
In addition, the program also evaluated the ride and handling suitability for Australian roads, as well as compatibility with the local EV charging infrastructure the company said.
A further test program will be opened up to customers commencing in June, to gauge feedback on the performance, features and potential applications for the Mighty Electric.
In outlining its global ambitions Hyundai said that as well as its plans to enter the global top three by 2030 based on continuous investment, the Group has also announced that it plans to significantly expand annual EV production in Korea to 1.51 million units, and global volume to 3.64 million units by 2030
The company said that by 2030 it will have a total line-up of 31 EV models and plans to launch 44 eco-friendly vehicles by 2025, of which 23 will be BEV models
The company said that by 2040 all its key markets globally will be fully electric and that by 2045 it will Group achieves carbon neutrality, by neutralising CO2 emissions at all stages of production and operation
