
Utes remain hugely popular in Australia – so far in 2026 there have been almost 160,000 sold, accounting for 17 per cent of new vehicle sales.
Battery-electric utes are beginning to arrive in Australian showrooms, although the choice remains small. As of October 2026, the Toyota HiLux BEV and KGM Musso EV are the two battery-electric utes currently listed for sale. MG has announced Australian pricing and specifications for its U9 EV, which is listed as coming soon.
Despite the clear environmental benefits to electrifying the largest vehicles on our roads, some may have concerns about whether an electric ute can do everything their internal combustion engine (ICE) ute can.
In fact, electric utes have many advantages over diesel counterparts, like instant torque, fast acceleration, and ample power to haul heavy loads. They also have sufficient driving ranges for everyday use, can power devices and tools, and perform "tank turns" if they have a motor on each wheel allowing the vehicle to spin in place, like a tank, to quickly change direction or navigate tight spaces.
Utes owners typically cover around 40 per cent more distance in their vehicles than the average car owner1. This means there are not only increased emissions from travelling further, but vehicle emissions and fuel costs are also multiplied simply because these vehicles are bigger and heavier.
Because of this, switching to an electric ute can offer big savings in fuel and maintenance costs compared to traditional vehicles, while at the same time making substantially reducing carbon emissions.
It also matters whether an electric ute fits the job. Towing can eat into range, and payload has to cover passengers, tools and accessories before anything goes in the tray. Now, the tide looks to be turning.
With utes so popular in Australia and most ute enthusiasts reluctant to surrender the convenience and economy inherent in diesel engines, offerings and uptake have been slow. But electric utes are beginning to drip-feed into our market. Here are the current options.
|
Model |
Toyota HiLux BEV |
KGM Musso EV |
MG U9 EV |
|
Australian status |
On sale |
On sale |
Coming soon |
|
Battery (kWh) |
59.2 |
80.6 |
102.2 |
|
Drive |
AWD |
2WD/AWD |
AWD |
|
Power (kW) |
144 |
152 (2WD), 266 (AWD) |
325 |
|
Driving range (km) |
Up to 315km (NEDC) for SR and SR5 double-cab pick-ups, and 245km (NEDC) for the SR double-cab cab-chassis* |
Up to 420km 2WD / 380km AWD (WLTP) |
Up to 430km (WLTP) |
|
Charge rate (kW, AC/DC) |
10/150 |
7/130 |
11/115 |
|
Braked towing |
2000kg |
1800kg (2WD), 2300kg (AWD) |
Up to 3500kg |

Pricing starts at $74,990 plus on-road costs for the SR cab-chassis, rises to $76,490 for the SR pick-up, and tops out at $82,990 for the SR5 pick-up. Open Road reviewed the Toyota HiLux BEV here, with middling impressions.
Toyota quotes up to 315km (NEDC) range for the SR and SR5 double-cab pick-ups, and 245km (NEDC) for the SR double-cab cab-chassis. Note, NEDC figures are typically around 30 per cent higher than real world range, while payloads and towing will bring that figure down further.

The Musso EV comes in front-wheel-drive 2WD and all-wheel-drive forms, with driveaway pricing between $60,000 and $64,700.
Both use an 80.6kWh battery, with claimed WLTP ranges of up to 419km for the 2WD and 379km for the AWD. The 2WD produces 152kW and 339Nm; the dual-motor AWD lifts that to 266kW and 630Nm. Both support vehicle-to-load (V2L), so the ute can power compatible tools and appliances from its battery.
Towing and payload figures vary by drivetrain. The 2WD is rated to tow up to 1,800kg braked and has a 905kg payload. The AWD’s towing limit has been raised to 2,300kg, while its payload is 805kg.
There’s been a lot of movement in what electric utes are coming to Australia, with expected models like the Isuzu D-Max EV, JAC T9, electric Kia Tasman and LDV eTerron apparently off the table for now. The MG U9, however, will be launched in coming weeks, and the Ford F-150 Lightning is already available through conversion company AusEV. Each offers a unique blend of specs and features.


The Ford F-150 Lightning is now available in Australia, but at a hefty price. It's not available through Ford, but instead through remanufacturing outfit AUSEV.
Priced from $AU224,990 before on-roads charges and fees, it is available in two Standard Range and Extended Range variants.
Top specs include 515km driving range, 131kWh battery, 433kW power, 1050Nm torque and the ability to tow up to 4.5 tonnes.
It also includes a slew of towing assistance tech including backup and reverse assist/guidance, smart hitch, on-board scales and brake controller, and the ability to power a home using a home integration system during a blackout.
LDV originally said that an all-electric version of the Terron ute (launched locally in late 2024) would be arriving in early 2025. However a spokesperson has confirmed with Open Road that it is "still a work in progress." When and if it lands, it is expected to sport a 3.5 tonne tow capacity, with either a 200kW single-motor or 325kW dual-motor format. Also expect V2L, and an electric tailgate with spring-lift assistance for a 2.4m loading area.
The BYD Shark 6 is not a battery-electric ute, but its sales make it hard to ignore. It sold 18,073 vehicles in 2025, placing fourth among 4x4 utes with an 8.5 per cent share of the segment. By the end of September 2026, cumulative sales had reached 31,659. It was third among 4x4 utes that month, with 1492 deliveries.
The Shark landed in early 2025 as Australia’s first plug-in hybrid dual-cab, giving ute buyers a new option in a market long dominated by diesel. Its $57,900 launch price before on-road costs, all-wheel drive and generous standard equipment strengthened the value pitch. The plug-in system lets owners charge at home and use electric power for shorter daily trips, while the petrol engine offers more flexibility on longer journeys. That mix may help explain the strong take-up, though sales figures alone cannot tell us why individual buyers chose it.
BYD has since expanded the range with a Dynamic cab-chassis and a higher-output Performance pickup. The 1.5-litre Dynamic and Premium produce 321kW and 650Nm and are rated to tow 2500kg; the 2.0-litre Performance produces 350kW and 700Nm and can tow 3500kg. Label combined-range figures carefully: BYD quotes 800km NEDC for the 1.5-litre versions and 640km WLTP for Performance. These are petrol-electric combined figures, not electric-only range.
Word on an all-electric BYD Shark 7 is thin on the ground, but worth staying tuned for.
No electric ute list is complete without a mention of the Tesla Cybertruck, but though first deliveries began in November 2023 in the US, doubts remain about if and when it will arrive in Australia.
In April 2024, the Cybertruck arrived in Australia to do a tour of Australian Tesla showrooms so locals could see for themselves the angular electric ute close up. Known specs include a 0-100km/h sprint in under three seconds, towing capacity of 6350kg, and up to 800km driving range.
The Cybertruck also incorporates Tesla's signature tech features, Autopilot, and a durable exoskeleton. Meanwhile, other American automakers like Rivian, GMC, Bollinger and Ram have developed electric pickups, but there has been no mention of their arrival in Australia.
First seen at the Beijing Auto Show, GWM said that the Poer electric ute would apparently be called the GWM Ute EV in Australia, following the trend of cutting the Ora Funky Cat electric hatchback name to a more easy-to-swallow GWM Ora. However more recently it has said Australians are not ready for electric utes so don't expect it any time soon.
Specs are said to include an electric power output of 150kW and a torque of 300Nm, with a range spanning 405km – however, an arrival date is yet to be announced.
Reference 1.https://theconversation.com/electric-utes-can-now-power-the-weekend-and-the-work-week-199600
10 May 2024: This article was updated to add information about the Tesla Cybertruck arriving in Australia, and the Ford F-150 Lightning on sale through AUSEV.
21 May 2024: This article was updated to add news that Toyota Asia will make a battery-electric Hilux for the Thai market, and information about the PHEV BYD Shark.
15 July 2024: This article was updated to add the Tembo Tusker and update information about the Riddara RD6 (
previously known as the Radar RD6) and Horizon.
24 November 2025: This article was updated to add information about the KGM Musso EV and other electric utes currently on sale in Australia.
2 April 2026: This article was updated to add information about the Toyota Hilux BEV.
17 July 2026: This article was updated to add review information about the Toyota Hilux BEV.
19 October 2026: The article was updated to add information about the MG U9 and delete models without current information.



