Thursday, 24 March 2022 09:55

LDV electric ute breaks cover

Written by  Mark Daniel
LDV has the first electric ute available for purchase in New Zealand. LDV has the first electric ute available for purchase in New Zealand.

While there seems to be a feeding frenzy for hybrid or electric cars of late, there’s no such madness for the humble ute.

That’s probably because, despite the electric powerhouses like Tesla or Rivian making lots of promises, to date they haven’t come to the party.

Now it looks like they’ve both been trumped, with SAIC Motor and subsidiary LDV showing the first electric ute available for purchase in New Zealand.

The LDV EVT60 is based around its sibling bi-turbo diesel T60, first seen in NZ a few years ago. Currently only available in rear wheel drive only, a 130kW, single motor set-up delivers 310 Nm torque and a 325km range, using a 88.5kW battery pack located under the centre of the vehicle.

Scheduled for production in September 2022 in China, the first examples available to drive away should land by the end of the year or early 2023. While final pricing and spec is just a little vague, the company has confirmed that it will be below $80,000 meaning it will attract the clean vehicle subsidy that currently sits at $8,625.

The double-cab format with a conventional rear well-side deck has a load rating of 900kg with a towing capacity of 1,000kg.

The company notes that using the vehicle at its maximum towing capacity will reduce its overall range by around 50%. Charging is AC or DC and safety specifications will include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, rear camera, radar and stability control.

Vehicles can be reserved with a refundable $1,000 deposit at the LDV NZ website:

www.ldv.co.nz.

More like this

Claas keeps investing despite tough times

Despite conditions in the farm machinery industry, which can only be described as difficult, the German-headquartered Claas Group has reported net sales of €5 billion for the 2024 financial, around €1.1 billion, or 19% lower than the corresponding period in 2023.

LDC looking to raise its game

While the LDV brand has been available in New Zealand for a number of years, it’s typically been recognised as a second tier offering. That has started to change after distribution passed to the Inchcape Group in 2023, who are on a trajectory to improve that public perspective, and in due course, push sales upwards.

Ceat buys Camso

Mostly associated with conventional tractor tyres, Indian tyre manufacturer Ceat is reported to have bought the Camso off-highway tyre and track business from Michelin for about US$225 million (NZ$400 million).

Quadtrac takes high horsepower award

Announced at the end of the year at the EIMA 2024 Event in Bologna, Italy, the Case IH Quadtrac 715 - the new flagship model in the Case IH tractor range - has won the Tractor of the Year 2025 High-Power Category for models of 300-plus horsepower.

Featured

$10 milk price still on

Whole milk powder prices on Global Dairy Trade (GDT) remains above long run averages and a $10/kgMS milk price for the season remains on the card, says ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

Industry leader not afraid to break the mould

North Canterbury dairy farmer and recently elected deputy chair of DairyNZ, Cameron Henderson is not afraid to break the mould when it comes to finding farming systems that work for him.

Climate change dilemma

Former Fonterra director Marise James says the future of the dairy industry depends upon the direction of travel with respect to climate change.

Banks urged to withdraw from alliance

Farmers are calling for Kiwi banks and their overseas parent companies need to follow the lead of America's six biggest banks and urgently withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance.

National

Machinery & Products

A JAC for all trades

While the New Zealand ute market is dominated by three main players, “disruptors” are never too far away.

Pushing the boundaries

Can-Am is pushing the boundaries of performance with its Outlander line-up of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) with the launch of the…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Follow the leaders

OPINION: Farmers are urging Kiwi banks and their overseas parent companies to follow the lead of America's six biggest banks…

Bouquet for bank

OPINION: Groundswell has given ANZ a shout-out for, so far, being the only one of the big four Aussie-owned banks…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter