The Toyota Hiace is a vehicle that doesn’t really need a glamorous introduction. It is just a simple box on wheels that is flexible and dependable. But with sustainable motoring a key part of the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, commercial vans like it need to adapt to the ever-increasing demand for eco-friendly transport solutions.

That will be showcased in this Global Hiace BEV Concept that will be making an appearance at the event. Just from the name itself, it’s easy to deduce that whatever is making this van tick isn’t powered by diesel or gasoline. Details about the powertrain have not been revealed yet, but we already like this vehicle’s sci-fi paint job.

Making good use of the flat floor is the lack of a front passenger seat, which will apparently allow this Hiace to swallow items that are 3.5m long. Additionally, the infotainment system will have software that can calculate the most efficient route during delivery runs. Exterior dimensions are identical to those of the low-roof, standard-wheelbase H300 Hiace.

An electric Hiace makes sense as contemporary vehicles like the Ford Transit and the Fiat Ducato already have battery-powered versions. Furthermore, it could also see the export-market H300 platform finally being sold domestically.