RV FEATURE
Tembo Cruiser being converted into
an EV by GB Auto in Orange, NSW.
MINING THE POTENTIAL
The future is happening faster than I thought. In fact,
fully electric caravan tow vehicles seem inevitable.
That’s what I thought when I heard about
a couple of ‘LandCruisers’ being given the
electric treatment by GB Auto in Orange, NSW.
The company is the Australian distributor for
Netherlands-based Tembo, which specialises
in converting vehicles for mining operations,
where there’s a need to reduce diesel fumes and
particulates. The current vehicles are based on
overseas-sourced LandCruisers that become
a Tembo Electric Cruiser. GB Auto is, however,
working on conversions of Australian-spec
Toyota Cruisers, and electric Hiluxes are in the
works, too.
GB Auto has also designed the wiring harnesses
for use in Tembo vehicles around the world and
had a major hand in readying these EVs before
they’re deployed to work in our mines.
Because they’re so heavily modified, these
vehicles are not yet ADR-approved, so you won’t
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see them on our roads any time soon. But GB
Auto’s Bill Dunlop said the Cruisers’ towing
capacity remained unchanged. The Electric
Cruiser offers over 1800Nm of torque (at the
wheels) running in full-time 4WD through a 3:1
reduction gearbox. The potential as a tow vehicle
is obviously there.
Being designed for use in underground mines,
where there’s plenty of opportunity to plug in
the vehicle to charge, these EVs have an 80km
average range using a 28kWh battery, or a
56kWh battery could be fitted instead to double
the range. This allows for a short charge time so
they can be used 24/7.
Sure, put a caravan on the back and you won’t
get far before needing to recharge. But that
misses the point: EV technology is in an advanced
state; it is being deployed around the world with
considerable private-sector investment; and
it’s only a matter of time before they’re widely
available and suitable for towing our Jaycos and
– Max Taylor
Millards.