LDV eT60- electric double cab ute.

I think the bulk of the sales will be to business looking to either reduce running costs, or win green cred.

Business will have a pretty good idea how their existing vehicles are used (mileage, towing etc). A decent chunk of branded ute's around here aren't fitted with towbar's, so any tow rating is moot for those customers. And of course there is the option of running a mixed fleet.

Would be nice if LDV offered a single cab, cab chassis configuration to target this market. Would be ideal for the likes of council maintenance contractors. Seems to be plenty of such utes, either with a rubbish cage, water-blasting setup, of flat deck tray around Auckland.

I'm sure there will be some recreational buyers, who value the tray (perhaps someone who does a lot of say dirt-biking, and wants a tray to take them to for daytrips within a couple of hours of home (and don't want the 90km/h trailer speed limit, and difficult parking from towign the bikes), or perhaps somebody who wants the utility of a trailer, but don't have space to park one).

Personally I think a model Y / EV6 (prior to the price hike), and a hitch mounted mountain bike rack / utility trailer would serve most recreational buyers better.

Handsomedan:

I can see this being a good option for those of us that want a Ute for things like slinging the bikes in the tray to go up the trails, or hauling a few things to the tip etc.

It's really a more urban option, isn't it?

Still not cheap, though when you consider that you can get a diesel ute for a lot less. And although Diesel fuel is costing a lit more these days, it's still cheaper than a petrol vehicle to run and there's no range anxiety (whether real or perceived).

84% of NZ's population is urban, so nothing wrong with a product if it targets that market.

But should note that, as can be judged by the sales success of 2wd utes (Hilux workmate / Pre-runner, Ranger Hi-rider etc), that many (both private and business) buyers aren't willing to spring for the price premium of a 4x4 ute, even when they are widely available in diesel.

Even for farm use, 2wd utes arn't rare. Farms generally have tractors, ATV's etc, that are far more capable off road than a 4x4 ute. And farm staff will have a good idea what conditions & locations a 2wd vehicle will get them without issue.

And of course rural, means longer trips. If a town run is 200km return, and that is done 3x a week, that works out to 31,200km a year, more than double mileage of an average NZ car, meaning a lot of fuel savings to be had.

On cost, vs diesel

After rebate, this is cira $72400.

Diesel T60 is 4x4 only so is not a great comparison. $42,538.50 + ORC + Clean car fee.

If say we ran the Toyota SR Prerunner diesel Auto as a comparison (cheapest diesel auto hilux, lower spec that the LDV, steel wheels etc). That's

$44,490 Plus Clean Car Programme Fee of $2,357.50. = $46,847.5

Means a $25,552.5 premium to buy the Electric LDV.

At $2.80/L and 8.6 L/100km, that works out to 106,115km of fuel, a mileage that the example rural user could run up in three years. (RUC, Power costs, maintenance costs etc all ignored).

If the LDV lasts 301,000km, the entire capital cost of the car would be equal to the cost of diesel alone to put in a 2wd hilux at rated consumption and $2.8L fuel.

tweake

Scott3