ELECTRIFIED RAV4

4x4magazine | 08/05/2012 | 0 Comments

Toyota USA unveiled the highly anticipated all-new Toyota RAV4 EV – an all electric compact SUV jointly developed with California-based Tesla Motors – at the 26th International Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles, California.

The RAV4 EV – based on the Toyota RAV4 compact SUV and fitted with a Tesla electric powertrain – achieves a real-world cruising range of approximately 100 miles (approx. 160km). The vehicle is scheduled for launch in late summer 2012 in US and the company plans to sell approximately 2,600 units over the next three years. Production will be carried out at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in Woodstock, Ontario. The battery warranty is 8 years or 100,000 miles.
In May 2010, Tesla and TMC reached a basic agreement to work together on the development of electric vehicles and their related components, production systems and production engineering. In response, engineers from Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA), Tesla and TMC soon started joint vehicle development, leading to the unveiling of a concept vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2010. Now, approximately two years since the Tesla-TMC collaboration began, the RAV4 EV will make its market debut.
The front wheel drive RAV4 EV allows drivers to select from two distinctly different drive modes, Sport and Normal. In Sport mode, the vehicle reaches 0-60mph in just 7.0 seconds and has a maximum speed of 100mph. Normal mode achieves 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds with a maximum speed of 85mph. Maximum output from the electric powertrain is 154HP (115kW) @ 2,800rpm.
RAV4 EV offers an exceptionally smooth, quiet ride and comfortable handling due in part to its low coefficient of drag and low center of gravity. In fact, at 0.30 Cd, RAV4 EV achieves the lowest coefficient of drag of any SUV in the world. Compared with the gas powered RAV4, Toyota re-styled the front bumper, upper and lower grill, side mirrors, rear spoiler, and under body design to maximize air flow around the vehicle. The battery pack is mounted low and to the center of the vehicle, contributing to a more sedan-like ride.
Inside, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat includes variable front seat heaters, which extends heater coverage to the occupant’s upper back. The split reclining rear seats with folding center armrest fold flat for increased cargo space, with a total cargo capacity equivalent to the conventional RAV4. No interior space is lost in the vehicle due to EV components.
The highlight of the interior is an eight-inch capacitive touch screen with a state of the art graphic display featuring navigation, telematics, and EV drive information and settings designed specifically for the RAV4 EV. The dash display color illuminates red when the vehicle is operating in sport mode and blue in normal driving mode.
Toyota’s approved electric vehicle supplier equipment provider is Leviton. Leviton offers multiple options for charging solutions. For the shortest charge time of approximately six hours, Leviton offers a custom 240V (Level 2), 40A, 9.6kW output charging station. The vehicle comes equipped with a 120V (Level 1) emergency charging cable for instances when the recommended 240V (Level 2) charging is not available.