Toyota, working in a partnership with Tesla Motors, will begin selling an all-electric version of its RAV4 crossover SUV in 2012. This represents an agressive schedule to bring the vehicle from its first unveiling at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show in November to the dealership floor in 2012. With an MSRP of $49,800, this car is being positioned as a premium SUV.

When the RAV4 EV goes on sale in 2012, Toyota says it will be the first and only all-electric SUV on the market—although the list of possible plug-in SUV models includes the Mitsubishi PX-MiEV and the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid. Actually, the biggest competition could come from Tesla itself—which is planning to produce an all-electric SUV called the Model X in 2013.