RAV4 Electric Vehicle from Toyota was presented at the 26th Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. It possesses an electric engine developed by Tesla Motors and will be seen in dealer showrooms from summer of 2012 at a price of $49,800. The electric battery is low mounted at the centre of the vehicle and offers a maximum output of 154 horsepower.
The car will be sold initially only in California with a base price of $49,800 ($48,840) and the Japanese car company hopes to sell a relatively modest 2600 units over the next three years.
Toyota Motor Sales USA executive Bob Carter says the company believes the car will "attract sophisticated early technology adopters, much like the first-generation Prius," Toyota's pioneering hybrid car launched 15 years ago.
"It's all about blending the best of two worlds... The all-new RAV4 EV marries the efficiency of an EV with the versatility of a small SUV - in fact, it is the only all-electric SUV on the market," he added.
The car, which costs more than twice as much as the petrol version of the RAV4 and would have difficulties with out-of-town driving for any distance, may struggle to find mass appeal.
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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 arm rest fold flat for increased cargo space, with a total cargo capacity equivalent to the conventional RAV4 of 73 cu. ft. No interior space is lost in the vehicle due to EV components.
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The RAV4 EV will go on sale in late summer 2012 through select dealers, initially in four major California metropolitan markets including Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles/Orange County and San Diego. Sales volume is planned for approximately 2,600 units over the next three years. The battery warranty is 8 years or 100,000 miles.
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