Toyota is rather conservative as car companies go, still keeping body-on-frame, V8-packing off-roaders on the lineup and not being in too much of a hurry to switch to electric power. Even so, there are indications that an all-electric Land Cruiser may be coming to the market based on this one-off build.
BHP hired Toyota Australia to build this electric prototype based on the Land Cruiser 70 truck to help it survey nickel mining sites. The corporation aims to reduce its harmful emissions by 30 percent by the beginning of the next decade; switching its light commercial transports to electric power would be a logical step towards that goal.
An electric Land Cruiser would not only be friendlier to the environment, but also less prone to vibration, especially compared to its diesel counterpart (see video). Rumors are now spreading that Toyota might eventually start mass-producing these Cruisers, although there are no calendar estimates.
In related news, the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 is getting ready for its debut. Reports suggest that it will ditch its V8 options in exchange for a hybrid powertrain or two.