VivoPower International PLC says it has signed a definitive agreement with GHH Group GmbH for GHH to distribute Tembo powered electric light vehicles (e-LVs) in over 50 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, using e-LV conversion kits from VivoPower’s wholly-owned subsidiary Tembo e-LV B.V.

Under the agreement, GHH intends to purchase 3,000 Tembo e-LV conversion kits through to December 2026. GHH will be responsible for acquiring original vehicles from Toyota, converting the vehicles to ruggedised e-LVs using the Tembo conversion kits, selling the Tembo powered e-LVs to end customers and providing ongoing servicing and maintenance, VivoPower says.

This distribution agreement marks VivoPower’s fifth major distribution deal in 2021 for Tembo e-LV conversion kits, and its largest to date by e-LV kit volumes, it says.

With the execution of this contract, VivoPower can now offer Tembo powered e-LVs to customers on six continents as the company continues to advance its aim to build a global Tembo distribution network before the end of the year. It previously executed distribution agreements with GB Auto Group in Australia, Acces Industriel Mining Inc in Canada and Bodiz International in Mongolia, in addition to announcing a non-binding Heads of Terms with Arctic Trucks Ltd for distribution of Tembo e-LVs in Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland.

Based in Germany, GHH has over 50 years of experience in the production of robust and safe vehicles for mining and tunnelling in hard and soft rock.

The Tembo kits are billed as transforming diesel-powered Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux vehicles into ruggedised e-LVs for use in mining and other hard-to-decarbonise sectors, including construction and defence. Alongside solar generation, battery storage and on-site power distribution, Tembo e-LV products are a key component of VivoPower’s turnkey sustainable energy solutions, which help corporates achieve their decarbonisation goals, the company says.

Kevin Chin, Executive Chairman and CEO of VivoPower, said: “We are delighted to have executed this multi-country agreement with GHH, who are a trusted provider of customised technology solutions to the global mining industry. This is in keeping with our stated objective of cementing distribution agreements globally with highly credentialed partners such as GHH.

“With distribution partners on six continents now, Tembo e-LVs will be available globally for mining customers aiming to electrify their light vehicle operations as part of their drive to net zero mining.”

Sara Thorley, Global Marketing & Production Manager for GHH, said: “Being a global provider of heavy-duty mining machinery, we were constantly being asked about the possibility of supplying our customers with electric light vehicles. Due to the demand, we started looking at potential partners in this sector and, after a substantial amount of research, we decided upon the Tembo electrification kit.

“First and foremost, the Tembo solution electrified the Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux, which are the number one light vehicles used in the mining sector globally, but, secondly, the technology used created a vehicle that was smooth, efficient, safe and very cost effective. We are very excited in what the future holds for us and Tembo.”