Toyota HiLux will be offered as a hybrid by 2030

Soon after announcing its first EV for the Australian market, the Japanese giant has outlining plans for a petrol-electric version of its bestseller.

Toyota will produce a hybrid version of the HiLux by 2030. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

Toyota has committed to offering a hybrid HiLux and LandCruiser before the end of the decade.

And the maker says a battery electric or fuel-cell version of both models could eventually be made available.

The brand announced yesterday it would launch its first electric vehicle, a mid-sized SUV called the bZ4X, in global markets by the middle of next year.

Local executives say they are working to have the vehicle on sale in Australia “within months” of the overseas launch.

Customers will have to wait longer for a hybrid version of the brand’s top-selling HiLux and popular LandCruiser, though.

Toyota is committed to producing a hybrid version of the HiLux. Picture: Thomas Wielecki.

Toyota Australia has promised to have an electrified version of every car in its range — excluding performance cars — by 2030.

That local timeline lags behind the brand’s global target of having a hybrid or electric version of every model by 2025.

Toyota Australia sales and marketing director Sean Hanley says the local HiLux and LandCruiser will take longer because of the unique requirements of local customers, including range, water fording capability and towing capacity.

“They must be fit for purpose and they must not compromise on any of the things the Australian consumer expects of those vehicles, therefore they will take a little longer but we’re committed to bringing electrification across our model range … by 2030,” he says.

Toyota says hybrid off-roaders will take longer to develop because they need to be able to tow and tackle tough terrain. Picture: Supplied.

Toyota also hasn’t ruled out a pure electric version of the HiLux and indicated it may eventually be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.

“I think that fuel cell electric vehicles will play a significant role in the Australian market going forward,” Hanley says.

While some rival brands are looking to skip hybrid vehicles altogether and move straight into pure electric vehicles, Toyota believes hybrids will dominate in the short term and form a significant part of the market well into this decade.

“We simply cannot achieve carbon neutrality by simply turning all our cars into battery electric vehicles,” Hanley says.

The new bZ4X will be expensive, limiting its appeal and sales potential. Picture: Supplied.

“I think that hybrid electric vehicles will be the dominant type of electrification, certainly in the short to medium future. I’ve often said that I do not believe that hybrid is a transition strategy in our market. Hybrid is the most realistic and affordable alternative for reducing CO2 emissions while driving,” he said.

He said sales of the new EV would be limited because the car “will be expensive”, as was the original Prius hybrid launched in 2001.

Hybrids therefore were the key to achieving a meaningful reduction in CO2 because they sold in much higher volumes. Toyota sold more than 54,000 hybrids last year, while sales of pure electric vehicles made up less than one per cent of the new-car market.

Electric vehicles should become affordable more quickly than hybrids did. Picture: Supplied.

He predicted, however, that electric vehicles would become more affordable more quickly than hybrids.

“Like hybrids, battery electric vehicle adoption and affordability will take time, but certainly not 20 years,” he said.

While all Toyota hybrids so far have combined an electric motor with a petrol engine, the brand says a diesel hybrid could be an option for the HiLux and LandCruiser. At the moment, all LandCruisers and the vast majority of HiLuxes are powered by diesel.

While Toyota’s passenger cars are extremely efficient, the brand’s off-roaders are very thirsty. Picture: Supplied.

The models drag down Toyota’s environmental performance because they are among the thirstiest on the road.

While its average CO2 emissions per car are roughly 100g/km, well below the industry average of 154g/km, it is one of the biggest CO2 emitters in the heavy SUV and ute category, where it has an average of 230g/km, well above the industry target of 197g/km.

That number is significant because roughly half the brand’s sales fall into the latter category.

Originally published as Toyota HiLux will be offered as a hybrid by 2030