#LAAS
Toyota laid out its plans at the Los Angeles auto show today to bring to market a second-generation RAV4 electric vehicle by 2012. I know, Snoresville, and it was all I could do to keep from falling asleep standing up during the press conference. But it was amazing how many journalists seemed absolutely riveted, and pushed and shoved to grab photos, as Toyota execs waxed on about the company's grand future plans for electric vehicles.
First, a brief history: The original RAV4 EV arrived in 1997 and 1,484 vehicles were leased over its six-year run, most for fleet duty, although some were made available to the general public. Of the original run, Toyota says nearly 750 are still in operation. That first RAV4 EV had a claimed range of 80-100 miles.
The second-gen RAV4 EV is being built in conjunction with Tesla Motors. The RAV4 production facility is in Canada, but Tesla will build and supply the batteries and many powertrain components at its Palo Alto, California, facility. Despite the addition of its lithium-ion battery pack, Toyota says the RAV4 EV will have a cargo volume equal to that of the 2010 RAV4.
Toyota says an initial run of 35 "Phase Zero" RAV4 EVs will be built this year to be used as part of a demonstration and evaluation program, which will run through 2011. Currently the test vehicles are achieving a claimed 100-mile range. Although the final range of the RAV4 EV has not yet been determined, the goal for the production vehicles is to be able to achieve a solid 100 miles in all manner of climates and conditions, a difficult feat for most electrics.
Toyota says the other goal with the RAV4 EV gen two is for it to drive as much like a conventional gasoline-powered RAV4 as possible.
Seriously, this many people are excited about an electric Toyota RAV4?
whitty1 says:
06:28 PM, 11/17/10
Barf, a dustbuster on wheels...NEXT!!
throwback says:
11:33 AM, 11/18/10
"Seriously, this many people are excited about an electric Toyota RAV4?"
It's LA, and EVs are the chosen vehicle for the self described enlightened folks.
blurglide says:
01:00 PM, 11/18/10
So, does this mean the RAV isn't getting a redesign for 2012? It's getting pretty old.