LDV eT60: New Zealand FINALLY has an electric ute - but is it any good?

It's the first pure electric ute available in New Zealand, but is it any good in the real world? To find out, Gav put it through a series of tests - and at one point even used it to solve world hunger! Well, not exactly, but this battery powered ute was pushed hard and seemed to do alright.

This medium-duty, 100% electric pickup truck is powered by a 130 kW, 310 Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels, and as Gav discovered, its 88 kWh battery gives it a real world range of at least 325 kilometres per charge - and much more in the city.

We hope you find this video informative & entertaining and invite you to click the Subscribe button to catch next week's electric car review which will be quite different from a ute!

And if you're keen on minimising your footprint on our planet's fragile ecosystem, why not switch to using 100% renewable electricity? With Ecotricity you can do that right now.

Contents:
0:00 - Introduction
0:46 - Specs & features
1:37 - Battery & motor
2:59 - Utes in NZ
3:25 - Display & connectivity
3:59 - Interior comfort
4:39 - Driving modes
5:15 - Utes in the city?
6:09 - Family info & stats
6:48 - Ground clearance
7:05 - Can it fit a pallet?
7:09 - Noise generator
7:36 - Stereo quality
8:03 - Cabin noise
8:16 - Regen braking test
9:00 - Driving on grass
9:33 - 0-100 time
10:07 - Handling
12:13 - Charging options
14:54 - Range test
15:42 - Efficiency
16:40 - Unsprung weight
17:10 - Kaipara Kumara
18:10 - Range update
19:14 - Pit stop
20:18 - My Food Bag
22:00 - Final delivery
22:40 - Summary

[dingbatt]

I tested both the eT60 and T60 in one day to get a comparison and be able to separate the “Ute behaviour “ from the “EV behaviour”. Firstly the diesel burner was truly horrible to drive, with massive turbo lag and inconsistent power delivery. By comparison the eT60’s power delivery was smooth but really anaemic. There was no “punch in the back” acceleration you normally get from an EV. I also noted that the $80K EV still had an ignition key instead of keyless entry and push button start. It really smacked of LDV grabbing some spare truck frames and bolting a massive battery pack underneath and then attaching an electric motor to the diff. All in an attempt to be first to market. The motor whine was really noticeable at anything over 80km/h and the low speed warning sound was akin to a goat having its testicles squeezed, and got on my nerves really quickly. With that towing capacity, it is okay for a Mitre10 courtesy trailer to take your outdoor furniture purchase home, but that is about it.
This is not a practical ute, it is for virtue signalling, either as a construction boss who doesn’t actually do the work, or for a company that needs to show its green credentials.
I’m looking forward to a ‘proper’ electric ute arriving in NZ.

[em_pen]

Poor Felicity!
Looks like a nice ute though, thanks for showing us the new stuff - can admire it from afar through you!

[shipoffools]

Gotta be the single best real world test I have seen on any vehicle!
Great work.

[michaeletuale]

At least someone starting a NEW ZEALAND car reviews ❤️👌🏽

[Michaeleb]

15:40 - I guess that's why the speed limit is been lowered across the country - to give the EVs more ranage.

[lizzle]

Great review Gavin. Loved the pallet in the back and the kumara test. Not quite the Potatoe storage capacity idea I had but bloody good none the less. While this may not suit everyone, it's great there's more options in the market.

[peterjackson]

Excellent video!
Nice demonstration of what it can do and how it can do it.

Shame that SAIC/LDV took a short cut and adapted their existing model and plonked the electric motor/reduction gearing straight onto the back of the axle. It doesn't quite look like it should be there, but I get the engineering reasons for that.

[johnhornblow]

I love your reviews, not overly nurdy that this model is 2cm wider then the previous etc ....

[standupmoto]

Thanks mate, very easy to watch & informative review.

[Danger_mouse]

23:48 Yes, fuel is expensive in a diesel ute, however, my $40k twin turbo Navara regularly did over 800km a day during covid in Australia when we couldn't get flights to the mine where I work.
800km on the highway is easy to achieve in that car on a single tank and only stopping briefly for comfort stops. Not enough time, or indeed any charging infrastructure for an EV ute.
That said, the $30, 000 price difference is the main killer. It would take the effective life of the vehicle to recoup the cost difference for me, as I'm a motor mechanic who services my own car.

[examinerian]

"It's been worked realistically..." - love the comedy there - doesn't everyone rainwash and air-dry their spuds in a ute?! 🤪😎👌

[Dqtube]

Another great review.
The car is not very effective for urban use and not robust enough for rural unpaved roads. Something like this is needed, but in this case they made some weird compromises that make it not so useful for many use cases. At this price, I don't understand why the entire bottom side is exposed. With this design, it's only a matter of time before the engine takes a good hit from a rock. Also regenerative braking is a joke for such a heavy car it's an essential capability, if they did this function the proper way, they could extend the range by at least 5%.

[jack._]

Good and informative, can’t wait to see the Felicities at the Cafe. 😂

[marlonpotakaharu]

5:34 "This is not the place for utes right?" *ranger drives past* 😂

[Nino]

QOTD: "I got my spuds a little moist..." Not sure how that goes down in NZ but certainly raises a giggle in the UK!

[Dave-in-France]

Hi there Gavin, just found your channel and watched this excellent video. I really enjoyed the very practical and honest way you reviewed this vehicle to demonstrate that it can easily do a good days work.

Looks like you have a great charging network in NZ as well.

[kelvynbettridge]

Great video Gavin! There is no doubt that these “utes” are sorely needed. We can ignore the price to some extent because that will not last.

[Brenttheaviator]

Great video Gav! It would be cool to see some towing. I see a few disparaging comments about the 1500kg tow rating, but 1500 kg is pretty useful. Just as some examples of what it would cover;

• a Haines Hunter 545 sport fishing boat, or similar power boat under 6m,
• some 6 berth caravans such as the Swift Sprite Quattro EW (1430kg) or Avondale Dart 630-6 (1231kg)
• 8×4 trailer with 60 sheets of 10mm Gib board,
• 8×4 trailer with 30 × 40kg bags of cement or plaster or whatever (and you could throw 15 more in the tray).

Seems it should cover most stuff that tradies tow, and let's face it, most work related towing is between the local builder's hardware store and the job site. Not usually more than 100km, so range shouldn't be an issue most days.

[colinc]

put a cover on your tray next time, it will still be a brick but with rounded edges thanks for your efforts

[MalachiDaWin]

I wonder what will he happen to the battery if you cross a small farm stream or take it up the beach fishing if salt spray is getting all around it?