SEA Electric has made the next step in its journey to electrify the world’s commercial vehicle fleet, by signing a significant Memorandum of Understanding with MEVCO, a leading systems integrator focused exclusively on electric light commercial vehicles within the mining industry. The partnership will see specialist all-electric Toyota Hilux and Landcruiser models made available for the mining industry, with MEVCO making a commitment to order 8,500 units over the next five years. The deal has a total value of close to A$1 billion.

At the time of the launch, over half of the 2023 allocation of the Australian-developed battery-electric vehicles have been pre-sold, with demonstration models available in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. At the heart of the arrangement is SEA Electric’s proprietary SEA-Drive® power-system, which provides “leading all-electric range, driving performance, and environmental credentials, with zero local emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide.”

Thanks to its medium-voltage architecture and electronic thermal management, SEA Electric says its solution is light, cost-effective, and efficient, with the system tested in the field across eight countries with over 2.5 million kilometres of real-world use registered to date. Available in various mining-specific designs for 4×4 and 4×2 configurations, the vehicles can be specified with two SEA-Drive® options, namely an 88 kWh battery which provides 380 km of range, or a 60 kWh battery delivering up to 260 km of use.

Fast DC to DC charging is available for the system, which provides up to 80% battery power in less than one hour, with a five-year factory warranty on the batteries supplied. For users, the switch to EV provides a comfortable work environment, with health and safety considerations including no noise, fumes, heat, or vibrations.

MEVCO is a portfolio company of RCF Jolimont – the innovation fund of Resource Capital Funds, one of the largest private equity managers in the world focused on mining.

“This is a pivotal partnership for the mining industry,” said Matt Cahir, MEVCO CEO. “It enables the world’s leading EV technology for heavy and light commercial trucks to be commercialised on a scale that makes sense for the bespoke needs of the mining sector. “SEA Electric’s unique architecture is perfectly suited for the task, with the system’s high-torque characteristics ideally fit for purpose.”

For SEA Electric, the announcement it says is the logical next step in the company’s expansion in the commercial vehicle space, opening up possibilities for the technology on a global scale for a wide variety of applications. “Across all industries, companies now understand they have a role to play in ensuring they are a part of the solution to the environmental problems we face,” said Tony Fairweather, SEA Electric Founder & CEO.

He adds: “With the SEA-Drive® power-system, we have developed technology that is perfectly adaptable to a wide range of commercial vehicle tasks that have typically been the domain of diesel-powered engines. Through MEVCO, the mining industry will now be able to access cutting-edge technology, which delivers top performance and total cost of ownership prospects, all with sustainability at the forefront. This deal is a significant step forward in Australia and shows just what is possible when it comes to electrifying the world’s fleets.”