The JAC T9 EV isn’t on sale in Australia yet, but the electric dual-cab ute is being pressed into duty in some of our country’s harshest conditions.
Warrikal – which provides maintenance and project services to various tier-one mining companies – is this month commencing a six-month field evaluation of the Chinese electric ute.
The trial will see the T9 EV’s battery and operational performance assessed, as well as how well the electric ute integrates with Warrikal’s existing fleet management systems, and how much more affordable it is to own and run than a diesel-powered ute.
“We’re excited to partner with Warrikal to demonstrate how JAC’s electric vehicle technology can meet the rigorous demands of Australia’s mining sector,” said JAC Motors Australia managing director Ahmed Mahmoud.
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“The JAC T9 EV Dual-Cab 4X4 combines the proven safety leadership of our T9 platform with advanced electric technology. This gives mining operations the reliability, capability, and most importantly, the safety standards that are absolutely critical when operating in some of Australia’s harshest environments.”
JAC Motors Australia has previously confirmed the T9 EV will be evaluated by mining companies, with their feedback “included in the business case”. It hasn’t locked in local launch timing.
Powering the JAC T9 EV is a pair of electric motors, one for each axle. Total system outputs are 220kW and 516Nm, significantly more than the turbo-diesel T9’s 120kW/410Nm outputs, with a claimed payload of 900kg.
It uses a 88kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery offering vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability and 330km of WLTP electric range.
The T9 EV is the latest electric ute to be prepared for duty in Australia’s mining industry, which JAC notes is Australia’s biggest employer and exporter.
Earlier this year, AUSEV, in collaboration with Advanced Manufacturing Queensland, revealed a version of its locally converted Ford F-150 Lightning pickups developed for the mining industry.
MEVCO is also importing Rivian R1Ts from the US and customising them to mining specifications.
The company also offers the MEVCO EV 4×4, which is a Toyota HiLux that’s been converted to electric power; MEVCO previously announced plans to convert 8500 new or near-new HiLux and LandCruiser diesels to electric power.
Toyota itself is supplying an electric HiLux to mining giant BHP for a 12-month trial.
Private buyers after an electric ute, however, don’t have many options, even as plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute options become more common.
The T9 EV isn’t on sale yet, leaving just the single-motor rear-wheel drive LDV eT60 with 130kW of power and a T9 EV-matching 330km of WLTP electric range.
LDV Australia has previously confirmed the more impressive eTerron 9 for our market, which has been approved for sale here in single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor four-wheel drive layouts developing 200kW and 325kW respectively.
The electric motor is fed by a 102kWh LFP battery pack, which can provide up to 430km of WLTP range.
