Electric Land Cruiser Conversion: The Complete Guide

The Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Series is the most popular safari vehicle in Africa. It is trusted because it is simple, strong and capable, but it runs on diesel that has to be trucked to remote camps and paid for at whatever the price is that month.

An electric Land Cruiser conversion keeps everything that makes the 79 Series great and replaces only the part that burns diesel. This guide explains how our conversion works, what it costs to run, how far it goes, how it charges and how long your vehicle is off the road.

What is an electric Land Cruiser conversion?

An electric Land Cruiser conversion removes the diesel engine, fuel tank and exhaust from an existing Land Cruiser and replaces them with an electric motor, battery pack, inverter and charger. The vehicle's chassis, body, axles, suspension and four-wheel-drive system stay exactly as they are.

Our conversion is a bolt-in kit. The electric motor mounts to the Land Cruiser's original engine mounts, and the battery pack is fitted securely to the chassis. Because the kit is designed specifically around the 79 Series, the conversion is clean, repeatable and easy to service.

The Silent Savannah electric drivetrain fitted to a Land Cruiser 79

Which Land Cruisers can be converted?

We convert the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Series, including vehicles fitted with the 4.2L 1HZ, 4.5L 1VD V8 and 2.8L 1GD engines.

Both pickups and game viewer bodies are supported. Many of our customers convert vehicles already in their fleet, giving them around 10 more years of working life. We also build complete new electric game viewers on a factory-fresh 79 Series pickup in collaboration with Rob's Magic Design.

What stays and what goes

The aim of the conversion is to change as little as possible. Your drivers and mechanics will recognise everything except the engine bay.

• Kept: the original gearbox and transfer case, high and low range 4WD, diff lock, chassis, axles, suspension and body.
• Removed: the diesel engine, fuel tank and fuel system, exhaust, and the servicing that goes with them.
• Added: a 160 kW water-cooled electric motor, a 40 kWh or 62 kWh battery pack, a water-cooled inverter and 6.6 kW charger, regenerative braking and custom drive modes.

Electric Land Cruiser specifications

Motor power	160 kW (214 hp), water cooled
Torque	355 Nm, available from a standstill
Battery options	40 kWh (Standard) or 62 kWh (Long Range)
Off-road range	Up to 150 km (40 kWh) or 180 km (62 kWh)
Charging	6.6 kW AC on-board charger, inverter and charger water cooled
Charging time	Around 6 hours (40 kWh) or 8 hours (62 kWh)
Battery lifespan	10 years
Weight added	None on the 40 kWh pack, up to 50 kg on the 62 kWh pack
Braking	Regenerative braking
Software & data	Custom drive modes, with usage, charging and carbon data
Workshop time	Two days
Warranty	40,000 km drivetrain, 2-year battery, driver handover training

How far can an electric Land Cruiser go?

Range depends on the battery you choose. The 40 kWh Standard pack gives up to 150 km off-road, and the 62 kWh Long Range pack gives up to 180 km off-road.

For most safari operations a full day of morning and afternoon game drives uses well under that, so the vehicle goes out full every morning and comes back with charge to spare. Operators who cover longer distances, such as transfers or conservancy patrols, usually choose the 62 kWh pack.

An electric Land Cruiser 79 game viewer ready for the afternoon drive

How is it charged?

The vehicle has a 6.6 kW AC on-board charger. A full charge takes around 6 hours on the 40 kWh battery or 8 hours on the 62 kWh battery, so it can be charged between drives or overnight.

Where there is no reliable grid, we supply off-grid solar charging containers and towable solar charging trailers. One dual unit can charge up to four vehicles a day entirely from the sun, which is how many of our customers bring their running cost close to zero.

Running costs: electric vs diesel

Diesel safari vehicles typically cost around USD 0.40 per km to run once fuel and engine maintenance are included. A solar-charged electric vehicle can run for as little as USD 0.02 per km.

For a typical safari vehicle that works out at over USD 4,000 saved per vehicle per year in fuel and maintenance. An electric drivetrain has no oil changes, no fuel filters, no injectors, no turbo and no exhaust to replace, and regenerative braking reduces wear on brake pads.

To see what your own fleet would save, try our electric safari vehicle running cost calculator, which lets you enter your own distances and costs.

How long does the conversion take?

The conversion takes two days in our Nairobi workshop. Same chassis, same 4WD, same low range, with more power and no diesel costs. Every conversion follows the same five steps:

• Assessment: we inspect the vehicle and confirm the conversion scope and battery choice.
• Strip: the diesel engine, fuel system and exhaust are removed.
• Install: the motor, battery pack and power electronics are fitted.
• Calibrate: software tuning, battery management setup and drive modes.
• Test: field testing on tarmac, bush track and off-road before handover.

What is an electric Land Cruiser used for?

Any Land Cruiser 79 in your fleet is a candidate, whatever it currently does.

• Game viewers: guests hear the bush instead of the engine, and wildlife is disturbed less.
• Ranger and anti-poaching: a silent approach, no fuel signature and no diesel run to remote posts.
• Research: low disturbance for collaring, darting, census work and camera trap rounds.
• Camp and lodge support: supply runs, laundry, staff movements and maintenance without the fuel bill.
• Guest transfers: a quiet, clean first impression on the drive in from the airstrip.
• Conservancy operations: fence lines, road maintenance, water points and boundary checks.

Warranty and service

Every conversion comes with a 40,000 km drivetrain warranty, a 2-year battery warranty and handover training for your drivers and guides as standard.

For operators who want more cover, we offer annual service packages that include drivetrain inspection visits, battery state-of-health assessments, remote telemetry and emergency callouts, as well as extended battery warranties. Our own team supports vehicles in the field across East Africa.

We also offer cash back on your used diesel drivetrain components, which helps offset the cost of the conversion.

Frequently asked questions