Iconic Toyota LandCruiser Gets Electrifying Makeover

An Australian company is shocking the automotive world by giving the legendary Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series an electric heart transplant. Australian EVs has successfully transformed the beloved V8 workhorse into a high-performance electric powerhouse that maintains all its rugged capabilities.

The transformation was spotted at Sydney’s Everything Electric show, where visitors did a double-take at what appeared to be a standard LandCruiser—until they peeked under the hood to find the 4.5-liter turbo-diesel V8 replaced by electric components that one observer likened to a “flux capacitor.”

According to Australian EVs Director Edwin Higginson, the electric conversion delivers triple the power of the original diesel engine at just a quarter of the running costs. “Everyone in Australia has parts and components for a LandCruiser. All we’re doing is making sure it’s more drivable and fun by throwing an electric version in it,” Higginson explained.

The converted vehicle maintains all the LandCruiser’s legendary capabilities—four-wheel drive with high-low range, 3.5-tonne towing capacity, and one-tonne payload—while adding impressive electric performance. With a driving range of approximately 600 kilometers, fast-charging capability, and two 40-volt outlets for off-grid power, the electrified LandCruiser has found fans among farmers, miners, and off-road enthusiasts.

The conversion process takes about 80 hours, with Australian EVs sourcing motors from the US and batteries from China before assembling the kits in New South Wales. Customers can either purchase a bolt-in kit or have the company handle the installation.

These transformations don’t come cheap—kits start around $40,000 and can exceed $100,000 depending on specifications—but Higginson believes prices will fall as technology improves. “Today in EVs, we’re around the first Blackberry,” he said, comparing the current state of EV development to the early days of mobile phones. “We’ve come a long way; we’ve got a long way to go.”

The electric conversion also offers a solution for extending vehicle life. With Australian cars lasting an average of 21 years (28 for commercial vehicles), Higginson suggests replacing failing engines with electric motors rather than another combustion engine.

For LandCruiser devotees mourning Toyota’s decision to discontinue the turbo-diesel V8, this Australian innovation offers an electrifying alternative that promises to keep the iconic off-roader relevant well into the future.