Toyota has a long history in developing electric drive vehicles. Nobody can dispute its unparalleled success at dominating the gasoline-electric hybrid market with its venerable Prius, or how this success has led to a family of highly-efficient vehicles under a Prius sub-brand.
Now the automaker has unveiled its new RAV4 EV that’s been developed in conjunction with Tesla Motors, featuring a Tesla powertrain with a 154 horsepower electric motor and 41.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It’s a real technical achievement that’s come from research and development to production in under two years. But what’s the bottom line?
The RAV4 is a smart package that’s been optimized for efficiency, achieving class-leading aerodynamics with a 0.30 Cd aided by a restyled front bumper, grill, mirrors, rear spoiler, and underbody design to maximize air flow. It’s typical of the battery electric breed in many respects, offering a driving range of about 100 miles with a six hour charging time on a 240 volt charger – about the same specs as the original, smaller RAV4 EV powered by nickel-metal-hydride batteries in the mid-1990s.
At the same time, it stands apart from the crowd because it’s the only electric SUV on the market. Toyota plans to make 2,600 RAV4 EVs over the next three years and offer them only in California, starting late this summer, at a $49,800 price tag.