Toyota RAV4 EV
Announced as part of a Toyota-Tesla tie-up on July 16, 2010, the new RAV4 EV was first displayed in prototype form at the 2010 LA Auto Show. The production version was revealed at EVS26 in Los Angeles, and, according to Toyota, will reach the market later in 2012. Going from concept to production in less than two years' time is break-neck speed in the auto industry, which Toyota says was made possible by the great engineers at Toyota and Tesla working together.
Since 2010, Toyota and Tesla have been steadily increasing their collaboration. Early that year, Toyota made a $50 million investment in Tesla and Tesla agreed to buy Toyota's defunct NUMMI plant in California as the site of future assembly for Tesla's Model S and, potentially, other vehicles that Tesla releases down the road. In October 2010, Toyota inked another deal with Tesla worth $60 million to bring the new RAV4 EV to market by 2012. Some parts for the new RAV4 EV may be built at the former NUMMI plant, but the car will be assembled at Toyota's plant in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada.
About the author
Nick is a tireless and passionate next generation car enthusiast. Since 2007 he has written hundreds of posts for outlets such as The New York Times, Motor Trend, Scientific American, Popular Mechanics, AutoTrader.com, The Daily Green, HybridCars.com, and Gas 2.0.
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Nick has also been syndicated in dozens of other outlets including the Matter Network, AP, and Reuters. He is recognized widely as a leading thinker and influencer in the world of electric cars and has been an invited guest of many auto manufacturers at major events, an invited speaker at alt-car conferences, and a consultant to help governmental entities figure out how to develop plug-in infrastructure.
Highlights of his career include being invited to be one of the first five Americans in the world to test drive a pre-production Nissan LEAF in Japan as well as being the first individual on the planet to be given the chance to do a full range test of the LEAF. He is also a driving force in the state of Washington to convince politicians to bring electric vehicle infrastructure to rural areas of the state.
Nick currently resides in Central Washington where electricity is 3 cents per kWh and electric cars can be driven for a half a penny per mile on clean hydro power.
Toyota RAV4 EV Stats
- Availability: Now
- Base MSRP: $49,800
- Est. tax credit: $7,500
- Technology: Electric Vehicle
- Body type: SUV
- Seats: 5
- Range: 100 miles
- Battery size: 42 kWh
Discussions
Leviton Unveils 40-Amp, 6-Hour Charger for Toyota RAV4 EV
Article · 14 comments
Eric Loveday says:
Leviton engineered a 240-volt, 40 amp charger for the upcoming Toyota RAV4 EV. Leviton's powerful setup is capable of...
Toyota Prices RAV4 EV at $49,800, Dials Down Regen Braking
Article · 11 comments
Brad Berman says:
Toyota announced this week that its upcoming RAV4 EV, featuring a powertrain co-developed by Tesla Motors, will sell "...
EV Fest 2012: September 9, 2012
Discussion · 9 comments
EV Fest says:
I Selected a pick of some of the Vehicle I Think should be attending EV Fest Electric Vehicle Show...
Toyota Confirms Limited Production of Electric RAV4 and Scion iQ in 2012
Article · 26 comments
Brad Berman says:
Toyota's chief executive confirmed last week that electric versions of the Scion iQ and the Toyota RAV4 will enter the...
Does Toyota Believe in Electric Cars?
Article · 14 comments
Laurent J. Masson says:
A Toyota electric car called the TMG EV P001 last week set a new lap record for EVs of 7 minutes, 48 seconds around the...
The Basics
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