Great Wall charges up electric ute

Great Wall Motor could be the first marque to bring a mainstream electric pick-up to the Australian and New Zealand markets as it readies its all-new Steedreplacing Ute range to be revealed at this month’s Shanghai motor show.

Although only the lifestyle-focused ‘adventure’ version has been shown for now, the Chinese car-maker is also promising an emissions-free version with 500km of driving range, as well as an ‘urban-spec’ grade to bolster the pick-up line-up.

Little else is known about the new electric ute, however, Goauto understands the pick-up might eschew a plug-in set-up in favour of a hydrogen fuel-cell system, which will likely

keep it off the table for local market consumption due to a lack of refuelling infrastructure.

According to overseas reports, Great Wall Motor recently invested one billion yuan, or $A2,095,34,913, on research and development for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, with the intention of having a fleet ready for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Haval and Great Wall Motor Australia and NZ national marketing manager Bill Soo said the Chinese brand was advancing its efforts to move away from internal-combustion engines as emissions regulations tighten.

“Thinking about what’s on the horizon over the next five to 10 years, the company takes the view that existing technologies will change dramatically, and as a company, we have to move into hydrogen EV, which is where the company sees interest,” he said.

A hydrogen fuel-cell ute would also make sense given the size and weight of battery packs in all-electric models that are required to reach the 500km distance.

As for other powertrains that could underpin the Great Wall Ute, expect to see turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, likely borrowed from sister brand Haval’s H9.

The Great Wall Ute will also share its underpinnings with the new-generation Haval H9, which is not expected to hit the market until early 2021 and will be built from the same facility in Chongqing.