Aussie’s all electric Landcruiser look-a-like built tough

Based on the Toyota Landcruiser 70, the all-electric ZED 70 is engineered for harsh climates.  Although the company has no plans to mass produce the vehicle, it can supply units that are customised to meet industry-specific needs, producing design-compliant and road legal utes for under AU$200,000

The ZED70 vehicle is built on a proven platform.  Available in Dual Cab, Single Cab, Wagon and Troop Carrier configurations we replace the diesel engine and gearbox from the standard 70 series Toyota Landcruiser before re-engineering the vehicle for Australian Design Rules compliance.

​An electric motor and ZERO’s proprietary driveline adapters and battery modules are integrated into the vehicle. The result is a product with torque figures  exceeding that of a twin turbo diesel V8. Increased chassis rigidity, lower maintenance costs as well as easy integration of vehicle tracking and geofencing are all possible with the ZED70.

Seamless Regenerative Braking (SRB) is also a key feature of the ZED70 product.

The ZED70 has zero emissions, making it safe to use underground, in tunnels and other enclosed spaces, where diesel fumes create serious health risks.

As well as being safer for mine personnel, the ZED70 substantially reduces maintenance costs. An electric motor contains one moving part, compared to hundreds in a diesel engine. This makes the motor itself almost maintenance-free. ZED70 vehicles have single fill options for differential and transfer case, effectively eliminating normal servicing apart from lubrication of steering components and the checking of wheel bearings.

ZERO Automotive can provide through-life support for the ZED70, including scheduled maintenance of motors and ancillary components, batteries and charging systems. Projected lifespan for the driveline in highway use is in excess of one million kilometres, while batteries can withstand thousands of discharge cycles. In harsh, corrosive environments, the rugged protective casings, coatings and seals protect the components within, and with regular scheduled cleaning and maintenance can be expected to last for decades depending on the application.

Of course, a fleet of zero-emissions vehicles significantly reduces the carbon footprint of a mine operation, especially when coupled with solar and wind generation for the battery recharging hub. The reduction in fuel costs is a further significant benefit, compared to an internal combustion engine.

All ZED70 units are future-ready, with the capacity to work with autonomous vehicle technology as it comes online. The control systems can be programmed to link into GPS and site-specific location services, enabling either full autonomy or safety override functions to avoid collisions.

Vehicle health monitoring including battery status and fault indication can be communicated to headquarters in above ground applications and we are currently exploring similar technology for underground applications.

Electric power steering, air conditioning, heating and ancillaries are all included in the ZED70

Source: Zero Automotive Australia