Tesla Signs $60 Million Contract With Toyota

thecarchik writes "Tesla Motors announced that it has reached a $60 million deal with Toyota to develop the powertrain for an electric version of the strong-selling Rav4 sport utility vehicle. A prototype RAV4 Electric will be unveiled by Toyota at November's Los Angeles Auto Show. The company plans to sell the electric RAV4 starting in 2012, the same year that a number of new electric cars will join the 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2011 Chevrolet Volt in the US market."

Comments

They already make Rav4 EVs

[Local ID10T]

I'm a touch confused by this announcement.

Toyota already sells the Rav4 as a full EV. I see them on the road regularly. Several bay area cities use them as official vehicles.

On the other hand I am a Tesla fan, and I have owned several Toyotas so I see this partnership as a good thing.

Re:They already make Rav4 EVs

[TooMuchToDo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_RAV4_EV

The RAV4 EV was an all-electric version of the popular RAV4 SUV produced by Toyota. It was leased from 1997 to 2003, and at the lessees request, many units were sold after the vehicle was discontinued.[1] As of 2010 there are 800 units still in use.[2] In July 2010 Toyota announced that is working together with Tesla Motors to develop a second generation RAV4 EV, and the companies expect the vehicle to be mass produced by 2012.[2][3]

The first fleet version of the RAV4 EV became available on a limited basis in 1997. In 2001 it was possible for businesses, cities or utilities to lease one or two of these cars. Toyota then actually sold or leased 328 RAV4 EVs to the general public in 2003, at which time the program was terminated despite waiting lists of prospective customers.

Re:They already make Rav4 EVs

[Locutus]

Toyota and Panasonic were forced to discontinue the battery pack design by Texaco(Exxon now) because the patent for the NiMH battery tech is/was owned by them and they won't let vendors build high power NiMH for vehicle motive purposes. Toyota discontinued the Rav4 EV after losing the lawsuit against them because of their batteries they used.

And don't forget, Tesla might have something Toyota wants so they partnered. It could be just a "Made in America" label or it could be something special they did with the EV powerplant or control systems. It might just be a quick way into the market while they figure out if a 100% EV market will grow as opposed to the plug-in hybrid market.

I feel there is a market for both.

LoB

Re:Excellent news

[GuyFawkes]

Smiths Electric Vehicles in the UK has been *continuously* making electric vehicles for over 70 years.

If you want experience, go talk to Smiths, if you want marketing bullshit, go talk to Tesla.

Parent - Interesting....

[AnonymousClown]

how about a regular bike? 10 miles per donut.

From what I see, a doughnut averages 300 calories and from what I see here you burn 30 calories per mile - so 10 miles per donut.

Re:g o l f c a r t

[Sir_Lewk]

Yup, a golfcart that easily out-preforms whatever clunker you have sitting in your garage right now.