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For those waiting on an all-electric Toyota Hilux pickup, you may have to wait a little longer. Toyota Europe’s light commercial vehicle sales head, Emmanuel Beaune, suggested that a 100% electric Hilux pickup was still just under investigation.

Is Toyota finally launching an electric Hilux pickup?

Although the Toyota Hilux is one of the top-selling pickups globally, a fully electric version may be further out than expected.

Toyota builds the Hilux in six nations, with sales spanning over 180 countries and regions globally.

Toyota unveiled the new Hilux Hybrid 48V, the first “electrified” version of the pickup, earlier this month. However, the small hybrid system is connected to a 2.8L diesel engine. The improvements are minor, with up to 5% better fuel efficiency.

There was also the hydrogen fuel cell electric Hilux prototype, which was revealed in September. With Tesla launching its Cybertruck, many wonder when (or if) Toyota will release a real electric pickup of its own.

Beaune told Top Gear, “It’s really part of our multi pathway approach, to have different powertrains and solutions.” Despite many governments moving toward all-electric vehicles, Toyota has insisted on a hybrid strategy, including gas-powered HEVs, PHEVs, and EVs.

Toyota-electric-pickup
Toyota HiLux BEV electric pickup (Source: Toyota)

As for an electric Hilux, Beaune said It’s too early to comment,” adding, “There are some investigations.”

Toyota did show off its Hilux Revo BEV concept in Thailand last December, but that was a year ago. The EV pickup was spotted testing in Australia as part of development in October, but Toyota has yet to reveal any new details.

Toyota-electric-pickup
Toyota Hilux Revo BEV Concept (Source: Toyota Motor)

Despite Toyota’s hesitation, Beaune said the company accounts for 30% of the pickup market in Europe. He explained, “We can see that for some workers they will be interested in a BEV,” adding, “That’s the reason why we’re studying with TMC (Toyota Motor Corporation) in Japan in order to propose the right solution.”

Electrek’s Take

With only “some investigations” into an electric pickup at this point, Toyota is already falling behind.

Several Chinese EV makers, including BYD and Geely’s Radar, have launched electric trucks. Even Japanese rival Isuzu confirmed it’s launching an all-electric pickup in Thailand. BYD is already stealing market share in Thailand, which Toyota has long dominated.

After entering the market in July 2022, BYD already accounts for over a third of EV sales and around 4% of new vehicle sales. BYD has already topped several Japanese automakers, including Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Suzuki, in total vehicle sales.

By sticking to its hybrid approach, Toyota is setting itself up for failure. BYD can develop a new EV from scratch to finish in 18 months. The automaker is already planning a new EV pickup that’s expected to launch shortly.

If Toyota wants to keep up, it will need to act with urgency. An electric pickup should already be a part of the automaker’s plans, not just under investigation.

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10 states with the biggest Biden infrastructure funding include key battlegrounds

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10 states with the biggest Biden infrastructure funding include key battlegrounds

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks as part of his Investing in America agenda, during a visit to Gateway Technical College in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, U.S., May 8, 2024. 

Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

The Biden administration has announced $537 billion in infrastructure investments since the passage of landmark government funding bills like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

New state-by-state White House data released Monday offers a holistic portrait of how President Joe Biden has so far doled out that funding across the country.

“We are breaking ground and completing projects across every single state and territory,” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Natalie Quillian said Friday.

The 10 biggest investments were scattered geographically and tended to go to the states with the largest economies measured by gross domestic product. Several of the biggest awards went to battleground states that will be pivotal to the 2024 presidential election.

These states have received the most infrastructure dollars so far:

Pennsylvania, Arizona and Michigan are among the seven key swing states that experts say could decide whether Biden or former President Donald Trump will win a second term in November. Georgia, another of the seven crucial purple states, received the twelfth-largest public investment at $10.8 billion. Biden won those four states in 2020 by razor-thin margins after Trump won them in 2016.

Florida is also on the Biden campaign’s wish list. Despite Trump’s polling lead in the state, the Biden campaign is looking to capitalize on the state’s hardline abortion access restrictions to make a case against the former president.

Read more CNBC politics coverage

The selection process for the public investments involved vetting project proposals, identifying suitable areas for new developments and engaging with the private sector for partnerships.

The ongoing effort involves agencies like the Commerce Department, the Treasury Department and the Federal Communications Commission, which all have systems and standards for allocating the money.

Roughly half of the funding is distributed “through formulas,” as a senior administration official said on a call with reporters Friday.

“Some are based on criteria like population. There are some that are more need-based,” the official added.

The remaining money is allocated via discretionary grants that states compete for and agencies award based on factors like “safety, economic impact, equity, climate resilience,” the official said.

The new data comes as the White House kicks off its “infrastructure week” with a slate of cabinet members like Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland traveling across the country to highlight Biden’s infrastructure victories.

The weeklong event is a subtle knock at the Trump-era “infrastructure weeks,” which often announced infrastructure development plans that were later put on ice.

“While infrastructure week became an empty punch line during the prior administration, the Biden administration has committed to delivering infrastructure that will benefit communities for generations to come,” Quillian said Friday.

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Should the US implement a 100% tariff on Chinese EVs?

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BYD launches sleek new Tesla Model Y rivaling Sea Lion 07 electric SUV starting at $26K

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BYD launches sleek new Tesla Model Y rivaling Sea Lion 07 electric SUV starting at K

BYD officially launched its new Sea Lion 07, a mid-size smart electric SUV poised to rival Tesla’s top-selling Model Y. Starting at 189,800 yuan ($26,250), the BYD Sea Lion 07 is the first EV based on its new e-Platform 3.0 Evo.

After unveiling the Sea Lion 07 at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November, BYD officially launched the new electric SUV last week.

BYD said it was its first “medium-sized urban smart electric SUV.” It’s also the first EV based on BYD’s new e-Platform 3.0 Evo. The new EV platform is an upgrade from the e-Platform 3.0 with improved charging and powertrain capability.

BYD says the platform features the “world’s first full scenario intelligent pulse self-heating technology.”

Even in extremely cold environments (-25°C), BYD claims the platform shortens full charging time by 40%. The electric SUV can charge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes. It’s also the first to be able to fully utilize the maximum (180 kW) GB15 (China’s charging network standard) public DC fast charging capacity.

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BYD Sea Lion 07, the brand’s first “mid-sized urban smart electric SUV” (Source: BYD)

With a 12-in-1 smart e-drive system, the new platform features the world’s highest-speed production motor (23,000 rpm).

BYD officially launches Sea Lion 07 electric SUV

BYD officially launched the Sea Lion 07 with prices starting at 189,800 yuan ($26,250) on Friday. The electric SUV is available in four variants:

BYD Sea Lion 07 trim Starting price Range (CLTC)
550 Standard 189,800 yuan ($26,250) 550 km (341 miles)
610 Long Range 199,800 yuan ($27,625) 610 km (379 miles)
610 Smart 219,800 yuan ($30,389) 610 km (379 miles)
550 4WD Smart Navigation 239,800 yuan ($33,154) 550 km (341 miles)
BYD Sea Lion 07 prices

Designed by ex-Lamborghini and Audi designer Wolfgang Egger, the Sea Lion 07 is a sleek, modern electric SUV. As you can see, it’s arguably one of BYD’s best designs so far.

BYD-Sea-Lion-07-interior

The new electric SUV has three powertrain options, including two 2WD and one 4WD model. The single motor model offers up to 550 km (341 miles) or 610 km (379 miles) CLTC range powered by 71.8 kWh and 80.64 kWh BYD blade batteries, respectively. Meanwhile, the dual motor model offers up to 550 km (341 miles) CLTC range.

As another first, the new EV is the first BYD vehicle to include DiPilot 100 “God’s Eye” ADAS. The system consists of 12 ultrasonic radars, five mm-wave radars, and 11 cameras for advanced drive assist features.

BYD-Sea-Lion-07-interior
BYD Sea Lion 07 interior (Source: BYD)

At 4,830 mm, 1,925 mm wide, and 1,620 mm tall, the Sea Lion 07 is poised to compete in Tesla’s sweet spot with the best-selling Model Y (4,760 mm long, 1,921 mm wide, and 1,624 mm tall).

The Sea Lion 07, starting at 189,900 yuan ($26,250), undercuts Tesla’s Model Y, which starts at 249,900 yuan ($34,550) in China. The RWD Model Y offers a CLTC range of up to 554 km (344 miles).

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BYD Sea Lion 07 (Source: BYD)

The Long Range AWD Tesla Model Y starts at 290,900 yuan ($40,200) with up to 688 km (434 miles) CLTC range.

What do you guys think of BYD’s new electric SUV? Can it compete with Tesla’s Model Y? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: CarNewsChina, BYD

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