Innovation Awards 2026 Winners Showcase Primary Sector Ingenuity
The bright ideas of New Zealand's primary sector have been celebrated with an announcement of the winners of the 2026 Innovation Awards.
Taking things a step further, the manufacturer chose National Fieldays to release its JAC T9 PHEV electrified double cab.
Offered at a starting price of $59,990 plus ORC it will certainly catch the attention of potential buyers and make its competitors shudder. Retailing at only $10,000 more than its non-electric/ICE counterpart, and indeed at the same price as a leading premium side-byside, the T90 PHEV looks to be the cheapest plug-in hybrid currently available.
While price is always a key consideration, the T9 PHEV also looks to be the most powerful, producing a combined 360kW and 674Nm torque from its turbocharged, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine and twin electric motors. In practice, the 2.0- litre petrol produces 155kW and 370Nm that combines with the 130kW front and 150kW rear electric motors, delivering a 0-100kph dash of only 6.0 seconds.
A combined range of up to 1050km is said to offer up to 100km of electric-only driving around town if required, but having spent much of the early part of 2026 testing in “real” NZ conditions, the company reports a recent Auckland to Whangarei trip returned 2.6l/100km.
A 31kWh battery pack supports DC fast charging, while also powering a 3.3kW Vehicle to Load (V2L) outlet in the rear tray. That rear tray offers a 915kg load capacity, along with the ute-industry ‘standard requirement’ of 3.5 tonnes towing ability.
Differing from traditional 4WD systems, the T9 PHEV uses an electrically-driven rear axle, without the need for a solid driveshaft between both axles. In EV Mode, the rear motor provides a direct drive to the rear differential, with additional traction provided, as required, by the front axle motor and the petrol engine.
Despite lacking a lowrange transfer case, the front, central and rear diff locks combine to keep the ute moving, while also being complemented by eight, selectable off-road and crawl modes. The company quotes a 550mm wading depth, alongside a sector-leading five-star ANCAP safety rating.
Offered in a single specification, largely based on the current T9 Black Edition, the PHEV also gains wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, surround-view cameras, telescopic steering wheel adjustment and a soft-close tailgate function.
With first deliveries expected in late July or early August, the distributor expects sales to be split 50:50 between the original ICE versions and the new PHEV.
