Toyota launched the second-generation RAV4EV at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The RAV4EV is a collaboration with electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors, in which Toyota has bought a stake. 35 of the electric RAV4 will be built for demonstration and evaluation, in preparation for mass production in 2012.
The RAV4 will have a range of 160 km in “actual road driving patterns,” in what seems to be the target range among electric cars these days. The car weighs about 100 kg more than the RAV4 V6, but accelerates to 100 km/h nearly as quickly.
“When we decided to work together on the RAV4 EV, President Akio Toyoda wanted to adopt a new development model that incorporated Tesla’s streamlined, quick-action approach,” said Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales. The project was approached as a “major-minor” product change—major change of powertrain, minor feature and cosmetic changes.
Tesla supplied the batteries and electric motor; Toyota was responsible for the seamless integration of the powetrain. The demo vehicle is powered by lithium metal oxide battery, with a possible change to different materials for the production version. No cargo space was lost in the conversion to electric vehicle.
In 1997, Toyota brought to market the first-generation RAV4 EV in response to the California zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate and was the first manufacturer to meet the mandate’s Memo of Agreement on volume sales. Powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack, the vehicle had a range of between 128-176 km on a single charge. From model year 1998 to model year 2003, only 1,484 vehicles were sold or leased in the U.S. 746 first-generation RAV4 EVs are still on the road.
The RAV4 EV is expected to debut in 2012, alongside the Prius plug-in hybrid and a small EV vehicle, perhaps based on the iQ.
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