Mitsubishi's next-generation Triton ute to go electric! And it's set for Australia

An electric Mitsubishi Triton is in the works, with a senior exectuive revealing the new off-road ute will be offered as either a battery electric or hybrid following the next-generation model’s arrival in 2023. 

Speaking at the launch of the Outlander PHEV recently, Mitsubishi's Segment Chief Vehicle Engineer (Outlander and Outlander PHEV) Kentaro Honda said that a decision was yet to be made on whether the Triton would be BEV (battery electric vehicle) or hybrid.

“We have a choice of hybrid or BEV, even for such a truck type,” he said. “So we are still investigating which powertrain is better. But I think for the Australian market plug-in hybrid is a good solution.”

When pushed further on why the Triton wouldn’t be fully electric, Mr Honda added that this could come later.

“It depends on the charging infrastructure. Right now in Australia, the plug-in hybrid is better than battery electric,” he said.

Mitsubishi is no stranger to electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid technology. The company was the first car maker to sell the world’s first mass-produced electric car - the iMiev - in 2009 and has been selling a plug-in hybrid version of its Outlander since 2013.

It seems more likely, however, that Mitsubshi will choose its plug-in hybrid system to power the Triton given Mr Honda’s comments and the company’s local boss Shaun Westcott’s statements in a recent CarsGuide story that the technology is the right option for Australia.

“We have EV technology. But for Australia with 75 per cent dirty power and a lack of infrastructure we don’t believe that this is the right solution for now,” he said.

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle such as the new Outlander PHEV uses two motors and a four-cylinder petrol engine for a combined output of 185kW and 450Nm.

A 20kWh battery pack is located under the floor of the Outlander and offers 84km of electric driving range. If the battery charge runs low the engine can power an onboard generator which will resupply electricity to the battery. 

With one electric motor driving the front wheels and second at the rear, the Outlander is all-wheel drive, with the braked towing capacity of 1600kg being identical to the petrol variant.

The official combined fuel consumption for the Outlander PHEV is 1.5L/100km.

And similar PHEV system could be used by the new Triton.

For reference, the current-generation Triton’s diesel four-cylinder produces 133kW and 430Nm.

The new-gen Triton will have much in common with its Nissan Navara twin with both utes sharing most of the same engineering and tech. 

The new Triton will of course still be offered with a diesel engine, four-wheel drive and a ladder frame chassis for very capable off-road ability.

The confirmation of electric Triton plans follows CarsGuide’s coverage of reports which surfaced earlier this year that Mitsubishi could add a hybrid variant to its new ute range.

The Triton’s electrification - whether it be plug-in hybrid or battery - would see Mitsubishi beat its rivals such as Toyota HiLux and Ford’s Ranger to the new technology. 

The new-generation Triton is expected to be revealed in early 2023 with Mitsubishi expected to divulge more details and specifications closer to the time.