Electric Quantum? New Toyota HiAce Concept Revealed

Toyota has released initial details on its new electric HiAce concept, seemingly based on the model we know as the Quantum and billed as a next-generation global van…

Toyota has whipped the wraps off its new fully electric HiAce concept, which appears to be based on the H300-generation van we know here in South Africa as the Quantum.

Though details are still thin on the ground – perhaps more information will be released once the concept has been displayed at the Japan Mobility Show 2023 – we do know Toyota has officially badged the vehicle as the “Global HiAce BEV Concept”.

Of course, here in South Africa, “HiAce” these days refers to the strong-selling Prospecton-built H200-series van, which also forms the base for the popular Ses’fikile. Locally, the H300 model is instead known as the Quantum. And it’s the latter vehicle that seemingly shares much with this latest concept.

*The concept’s cargo floor is completely flat.*

According to press material translated from Japanese, the battery-powered HiAce concept is technically a single-seater vehicle, with the front-passenger seating area instead repurposed as cargo space, allowing objects as long as 3.5 metres to be easily loaded.

Thanks to packaging advantages owing to the electric powertrain, the load area features a completely flat floor, while Toyota says its latest light-commercial vehicle concept has a turning radius of just 5.5 metres. The dashboard, meanwhile, features a large touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster.

*Plenty of technology up front, considering this is an LCV.*

The show car measures 5 280 mm from nose to tail (for the record, that’s 15 mm longer than the long-wheelbase Quantum panel van offered locally) and 1 950 mm wide, while standing 1 990 mm tall. The wheelbase comes in at 3 210 mm (matching that of the SA-spec panel van mentioned above), with the maximum cargo length, width and height listed as 3 490 mm, 1 715 mm and 1 270 mm, respectively.

Toyota has thus far released no specifics about the electric HiAce’s powertrain, which means we have no idea about the number of electric motors, the total system power or indeed the single-charge range. Here’s hoping more information comes to light soon.

As a reminder, the Quantum line-up in South Africa currently comprises as many as 8 derivatives, including panel van, crew cab, 6-seater, 9-seater, 11-seater and 14-seater body styles. All variants are powered by Toyota’s familiar 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine. The local Hi-Ace range, meanwhile, features a pair of Ses’fikile 14-seater taxis (offered with either a 2.7-litre petrol mill or the 2.5D-4D motor) and a 14-seater bus.

Buy a Toyota Quantum on Cars.co.za!