Toyota Introduces Electric RAV4, Powered By Tesla Motor

thecarchik writes "As they say, everything old is new again. Fourteen years after it launched its very first RAV4 crossover at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota returned to LA to launch an all-electric version of its latest RAV4. And this one is, as the logos in a teaser photo released earlier said, 'powered by Tesla.' The launch of the second version of the RAV4 EV is on a fast timeline, led by a working group made up of Toyota's Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a team from Tesla Motors. The partnership will build 35 'Phase Zero' test versions of the latest RAV4 EV next year, with production launch expected in 2012."

Comments

They did this in the 90s.

[Kenja]

During the zero emission days in California there where some electric RAV4 vehicles around. But of course, you couldn't buy them, only lease. And as soon as GM got the law repealed they where yanked back and destroyed. One person here in Marin refused to return his however. Still see it around from time to time.

Re:They did this in the 90s.

[Kenja]

But it was GM that pushed to have the zero emission laws over turned, not Toyota.

Re:They did this in the 90s.

[Kenja]

Sorry, I remember distinctly all the full page ads and campaigning GM did to get the law removed. They hated the EV cars with a passion. The reasons why are unknown, but there are a lot of valid theories. However no one who lived through it can come to any conclusion other then GM did everything they could to get the zero emission laws removed. And as soon as they no longer had to have EV cars, they pulled them, despite people screaming for the chance to buy them.

Re:They did this in the 90s.

[MobyDisk]

A lot of this is perspective...

GM caught a lot of flak for how it behaved after the law was repealed (destroying all EV1s), but they weren't the root cause despite what popular documentaries say.

GM did a lot of other things to make the EV1 look bad. They probably had some valid reasons - the car was expensive to build, and battery technology was not where it is today, although it isn't that far different.

In the documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? they interview a man who was a higher-up assigned to the EV1 project. Throughout the documentary, he points out ways that GM intentionally thwarted the project while assigning him to make it look like they were trying to promote the car but failing. I can't remember his name though.

...arguing that hybrid vehicles (powered by gas but with batteries to sustain them at idle and to enable regenerative braking)

They really argued for hydrogen-powered cars, which they knew then, and know now, are not going to happen any time soon. IMHO, their main goal was not to get time to innovate.

All the conspiracy theories about GM blocking the electric vehicle hinge on one assumption - that an electric vehicle is cost-competitive with gasoline vehicles right now.

True, but I think the comparison would be a lot more fair if you stop assuming that people need to transport 5 people and 200lbs of luggage 250 miles per trip. Gasoline cars can do that, and electric cars cannot. So you are right that they aren't apples-for-apples competitive.

if California wants to encourage new technologies by drafting legal requirements, then pulls a double-cross by dropping the requirements before companies can recoup the money spent creating those new technologies, why should the companies be obligated to let California benefit from said technologies?

I have to grant you this is a hell of a point - I never thought of it that way.

Re:Not new.

[h4rr4r]

The old RAV 4EV was available from 1997 to 2003.

HighGear Media

[spun]

Good eye, those sights are both "Part of HighGear Media" according to the banner. HighGear appears to be "a vertical publishing company publishing more premium automotive content than anyone in the world through websites targeting key buyer and vehicle segments." according to their website. They have a "network of 100 plus owned and operated automotive websites, anchored by the TheCarConnection.com, currently reaches nearly 3 million in-market car shoppers a month. High Gear Media is building some of the fatest growing automotive destinations on the Web."

Fatest growing destinations on the web?

The amount of market blather on that site made my brain hurt. This whole thing smacks of SCO linkery-dickery. I guess I went down the wrong damn rabbit hole suggesting Toyota might be behind this.

Re:HighGear Media

[MyLongNickName]

s/sights/sites

Re:Can't wait!

[daemonc]

Remind me again when I can buy a diesel Golf

Seriously? Just walk into just about any VW dealership, and say "I would like to buy a diesel Golf".
Or buy a used one like I did. The early 2000s models still get the best fuel economy, with many people seeing over 50 MPG combined highway/city.

We even have our own online clubs, where we share helpful tips on maintenance, repair, and improving your fuel economy and power: http://forums.tdiclub.com/

I know VW doesn't put a lot of marketing effort into the TDI line in the US, but damn... I'm amazed that someone who sounds genuinely interested in a fuel efficient vehicle doesn't even know they are available...

Re:It has to be Tesla

[h4rr4r]

Like DC?
Like the lightbulb he did not invent?
Like all the other stuff he claimed credit for but was really the work of others?

Specs?

[LoudMusic]

Sure would be nice to see some specs on this new electric critter. I've said for a while that the Tesla Roadster power train could be great on SUV platforms that are designed for extra weight, and the Roadster's output is higher than most SUVs anyway, including my 2008 Wrangler.

So moving forward with assumptions ...

2010 RAV4 is 3360 pounds with the V6 producing 269HP for a power to weight ratio of 12.49 (smaller is better, Viper is 6.7, Mini Cooper S is 14.5).

CEO Lentz estimated the EV would be 220 pounds heavier putting it at 3580 pounds, and assuming it's using the same motor from the Roadster that's 288 HP for a power to weight ratio of 12.43 (the Roadster's PWR is 9.45). So essentially the same as the V6, with more initial power, better power control, and no guilt for driving it.

Hey, sounds like dynamite to me. Plug it in at night, buy tires and brake pads every two years, wash it on the weekends. It should have a range of about 180 to 200 miles. Plenty for anyone's day with the family. For a lot of people it would even get them to grandma's house where it could charge overnight. If they can get it on the road for under $40K I think they might have a winner.

Re:How will an Electric Powered Car solve anything

[99BottlesOfBeerInMyF]

I really do not get the point of this vehicle. Using electricity as a fuel instead of gasoline and sacrificing on some power to save the environment does sound like an interesting idea. But we need to consider where the electricity comes from

The point of electric vehicles is to divorce cars from a single power source and make it possible to transition to more sustainable energy. It's one part of a strategy to free us from dependence on oil. Once the majority of the fleet is electric, the electricity can come from nuclear, wind, hydro, tidal, geothermal, natural gas, coal, or anything else we come up with. Moreover, it allows for the option of distributed power generation from flexible sources. Put solar panels or windmills on your house and power your car, or use centralized power generation for greater efficiency, but more transmission cost.

Electric cars == flexibility

Re:crossover SUVs

[winwar]

"They have all of the advantages of cars (easy to drive, easy to park, affordable) combined with all of the advantages of SUVs (lots of cargo capacity, good visibility)."

You are joking? Right? I mean seriously?

Crossovers are glorified hatchbacks and station wagons that might have an inch or two of extra clearance and a high center of gravity. They certainly don't have much cargo capacity (check out their actual load capacity in addition to the space). They certainly aren't cheap (they cost more to maintain and run). And if you are concerned about visibility, might I suggest not tailgating the vehicle in front of you.

Re:Not new.

[RMH101]

I don't know how they tested a Jetta 1.9TDI and got mileage that poor out of it. I've a VAG 1.9TDI PD130 engine in my Skoda Superb (basically a stretched VW Passat - 5m long and 2 tonnes) and it gets over 50mpg with no problem whatsoever. I've seen 55 on long runs, and regularly get 43 commuting in gridlock.
The urea treatment and diesel particulate filter is common in all Euro 4 diesels - all Euro diesels sold now do this AFAIK.
VW also has the "Bluemotion" line (slightly taller gearing, better aero, lower rolling resistance tyres) variants of most of their diesels that'll do even better MPG - the Polo will do 70mpg on conventional diesel.

As an aside, anyone who thinks diesels are dirty, slow or smelly should sit in an Audi A4 3.0TDI or a BMW 330d.