Electric Toyota HiAce concept unveiled ahead of Tokyo motor show
Australia’s top-selling delivery van for the past 11 years has been given a futuristic battery-powered makeover.
An electric version of the top-selling Toyota HiAce van has been unveiled as a concept in Japan ahead of its debut at the Tokyo motor show next week.
While it is branded as a concept for the time being, reports out of Japan claim an electric HiAce may arrive in showrooms by the middle of the decade, either based on the current diesel version, or as an all-new, dedicated electric vehicle similar to the VW ID. Buzz.
It would join a growing list of battery-powered vans of all sizes from manufacturers in Europe – Renault, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen – as well as the US (Ford) and China (LDV).
Toyota has labelled the concept as the Global HiAce BEV Concept as it is based on the ‘global’ H300-series HiAce sold outside of Japan – in South-East Asia, Australia and other markets – since 2019.
Japan does not receive the latest HiAce, instead continuing with the previous-generation, flat-nosed H200 model introduced in 2005, almost two decades ago – and the people-mover version of the H300 HiAce, sold in Australia as the Granvia, and in Japan as the GranAce.
BEV is short for battery-electric vehicle.
Toyota has not published details of what powers the show vehicle, and it is unclear if it is be a driveable vehicle – or a static motor-show display.
The electric HiAce concept can be distinguished by a futuristic closed-off front fascia with a blank grille panel and sleeker headlights, plus black wheel covers, BEV badges on the front passenger and rear barn doors, ‘Global HiAce and ‘BEV Concept’ decals, and body-coloured tail-light surrounds.
Inside, there is just one seat, making for a larger load area that Toyota claims can house items up to 3.5 metres long.
The concept receives a larger infotainment screen running new-generation software, a widescreen digital instrument cluster, and a rotary-dial shifter similar to the Toyota BZ4X electric SUV.
Toyota says the electric van can “[improve] delivery efficiency using connected technology … optimising delivery routes, displaying the loading location of the next package to be delivered.”
The Global HiAce BEV Concept is based on the long-wheelbase version of the latest HiAce, measuring 5280mm long, 1950mm wide, 1990mm tall, and 3210mm in wheelbase length. The cargo area is said to measure 1715mm wide and 1270mm tall.
The electric Toyota HiAce concept is due to make its public debut at the Tokyo motor show next week, which opens to the press on October 25 and 26.
It will be displayed not at the booth of the main Toyota brand, rather by its manufacturing subsidiary Toyota Auto Body which operates the factory where the HiAce is built.