PHEV Utes: Comparison Table
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle has a powertrain comprising an electric motor, battery, and a combustion engine. The battery can be charged externally (at home at very low cost, or at a public charger).
A PHEV powertrain provides several advantages for Utes:
- Low-cost, quiet, no-pollution travel for local trips.
- 230v power supply when on site (V2L or Vehicle-to-Load).
- Sufficient range for longer-duration trips (or trips with a heavy tow load).
What PHEV Utes are available in New Zealand?
Specs have been gathered from various sources and are subject to change.
| BYD Shark 6 | Ford Ranger PHEV | GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | |
| When | Late 2024 | At dealers mid-2025 | 2025 Q1 |
| Price | ? | ? | ? |
| Trims | Initially, a unique Stormtrak trim. | ||
| Battery size | 29.6 kWh | 11.8 kWh | 37.1 kWh |
| Electric-only range | 100 km | 45 km | 110 km |
| Combined range | 800 km | ||
| Combined power | 320 kW (650 Nm) | 213 kW (690 Nm) – combined electric-assisted powertrain | 300 kW (750 Nm) |
| Electric motor power | 170 kW (310 Nm) | ||
| Electric motor power | 150 kW (340 Nm) | 75 kW | 120 kW (400 Nm) |
| Combustion engine | 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol | 2.3L petrol | 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol |
| Braked towing max. | 2,500 kg | 3,500 kg | 3,500 kg |
| V2L outlets | One interior plug, two on load bed. Max output 6.9 kW. | ||
| Ground clearance | 224 mm | ||
| Wade | 800 mm | 800 mm |
Depending on the configuration of the powertrain, multiple modes of travel are available:
- Combustion only.
- Electric travel only (drawing electricity from the battery to power an electric motor).
- Range extending (travelling via the electric motor, but the combustion motor charges the battery).
A PHEV will also use regenerative braking to convert kinetic energy back into electricity in the battery (further extending the electric range).
Ford Ranger PHEV modes
- EV Now: electric-only drive
- EV Later: holds some charge in reserve (for later use)
- EV Charge: recharges the battery while driving
- Auto EV: let the vehicle choose
The GWM Cannon Alpha is currently available as a standard hybrid (i.e., it does not allow external charging and has a much smaller battery).
What about fully electric utes?
Fully electric vehicles (Battery Electric Vehicles—BEVs) do not have combustion engines and rely completely on externally charged batteries.
LDV introduced a BEV ute to market in 2022, with limited success.
A fully electric powertrain poses challenges for the specific demands of a ute.
- Utes are large, heavy vehicles with poor aerodynamics, leading to high energy consumption. This then requires a very large battery (which, in turn, makes the vehicle considerably heavier).
- A smaller battery compromises the vehicle’s range. Energy demands from load and towing also require significant amounts of energy.
- Batteries are also the highest-priced component of an electric vehicle, driving up the costs of EVs with large batteries.
Example: The LDV eT60 supplied 325 km of WLTP range from its 88 kWh battery. However, a modern, efficient electric sedan (such as the BYD Seal) has a range of 570 km from an 84 kWh battery.
Some BEV utes (light trucks) are available in the USA. However, they are very large, heavy, and have a high price tag.
Example: The USA Ford F-150 Lightning (starts at over $NZD 100,000) can get very heavy. The platinum trim weighs over 3.2T (without load). The extended-range model has a massive 130 kWh battery (it takes a long time to charge).
For fully-electric utes to become viable and price-competitive, battery energy density must improve sufficiently.
BEV Utes
LDV eTerron 9 – possibly coming to Australia. Large ute with dual electric motors, 100 kWh battery offering 430 km of range. More at drive.com.au
Geely Riddara RD6—built for the Thailand market, it has two battery options (63 or 86 kWh) and a fast charge speed of 120 kW. Its max range is 517 km (CTLC—so about 424 km WLTP). Its length is 5260 mm x 1900 mm wide and 1830 mm tall.
JAV T9 Hunter
