Toyota’s First Electric Truck Can Only Manage 149 Miles on a Charge

Toyota has taken the wraps off its first electric truck, and the numbers are surprisingly… modest. The ninth-generation Hilux now offers a battery electric variant alongside diesel, gasoline, and future hydrogen fuel cell options. The electric Hilux is powered by a 59.2 kWh battery promising 149 miles of range on Europe’s WLTP test cycle. That translates to roughly 126 miles using EPA measurements, putting it in the same territory as early Nissan Leafs and other entry-level EVs that struggled to convince mainstream buyers a decade ago.

The Hilux has long been Toyota’s global workhorse, known for durability rather than sophistication. The electric version uses dual motors delivering permanent all-wheel drive. It maintains respectable capability on paper, but the limited range becomes even more problematic when actually put to work.

Range anxiety when loaded up

Put a payload in the bed or attach anything to the trailer hitch, and that 149-mile figure is sure to drop even further. The electric Hilux can carry a 1,576-pound payload and tow up to 3,525 pounds, but both figures fall well short of diesel versions.

Compare this to the Rivian R1T, which starts around $70,000 and delivers over 300 miles of range with significantly higher payload and towing capacity. Ford’s F-150 Lightning offers similar capabilities but faces its own struggles, with the company actively considering ending production amid mounting losses and challenging market conditions.

The question isn’t just whether the Hilux electric works technically. It’s whether electric trucks matter to buyers at all. General Motors sells the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and GMC Hummer EV, and combined sales of all three totaled about 1,800 units in October 2025. Interest in the upcoming Scout pickup shows buyers prefer the range-extender hybrid over pure EV. 

Pricing and production timeline 

Toyota hasn’t released pricing for the electric Hilux yet, but the limited range and capabilities suggest it won’t command a premium over diesel versions. The electric model is scheduled to hit showrooms in December 2025 in markets like Australia, with European sales following in the first half of 2026. The Hilux won’t reach the United States, since Toyota already competes in America’s midsize truck segment with the Tacoma.

The electric Hilux may be checking a box for emissions regulations. With such limited range and reduced capability compared to internal combustion versions, the Hilux electric feels less like the future and more like a compliance exercise.