Toyota RAV4 EV debuts in LA

By Carsguide team

The RAV4 EV is scheduled to hit the US market in 2012.

Toyota's tie-up with niche-market electric-car maker Tesla has resulted in the Toyota RAV4 EV - an electric vehicle that has made its debut at the LA Auto Show.

Tesla developed the drivetrain,  including the battery, power electronics module, electric motor, gearbox and software.  The RAV4 EV first started in 1997 as a plug-in vehicle and in this first generation, was available in the US for six years.

Toyota said it sold or leased 1484 units during that time – and that nearly 750 of them are still in operation – but could never make them a mainstream hit like the Prius.

"Making these alternative-power vehicles isn't that difficult,'' said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor Sales US president and chief operating officer.

"The hard part is bringing them to mainstream customers.''

The RAV4 EV is scheduled to hit the US market in 2012. The initial batch of test vehicles, the so-called Phase Zero machines, are already achieving up to 160km of range.

Toyota is working to ensure that the Phase One vehicles (thatis, the next batch) will be able to reach that range regardless of ambient temperatures.

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