Thread: Full Electric LDV ute

Originally Posted by mudgripz

Month or so ago I read some vehicle survey results from a UK motoring body - a reasonable scale survey. Unfortunately can't google/find data now but... Regarding reliability of vehicle types, survey found hybrids were most reliable in 2021-22 - a technology reasonably well worked out now. Survey also found full electric vehicles to be least reliable - and this matches US JD Powers results from recent years which has put eg Tesla right at the bottom for reliability (can't remember test timeframe). Still some learning to do there.

Read another relevant article at same time from Stuff in NZ, and it talked about problems electric SUV/RV/4wd owners are having with water. Alot of owners complaining they cannot cross streams etc with the electric 4x4s, where previously their petrol/diesel options had no issue. One owner in story spoke of buying a second hand electric 4wd SUV and attempting to cross a stream. Not deep - half wheel depth or so - but his electric SUV stopped dead in midstream. Had it towed out, taken for repair, and was given a repair quote of $42,000 for his 2nd hand $37k purchase price vehicle. Whole motor and circuit was gone. And there was no guarantee it would be 100% fixed. Many other owners popping up reporting river/stream crossing problems.

Looking at the electric 4wd under-truck photo above, there will have to be significant technology/structural changes before it can be considered an offroad suitable vehicle. You would not take it near any southern offroad conditions - uneven ground, rivers, rocks etc. Too exposed, too vulnerable. 4WD appearance only. More development needed - and it will come. For our hunting/4wding conditions you need vehicles like Trout's old Patrol - the most electronic thing about them is the cigarette lighter, but they will not leave you parked after a few river splashes. Sturdy old 90s diesels very popular with 4wd club guys.

I don't believe the T60 comes in a 4wd version yet. But even in its standard 2wd form it would be dicey to take it places a 2wd hilux might happily wander along taking the family to a riverside picnic.