Toyota RAV4 EV
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The Toyota RAV4 EV is an all-electric version of the popular Toyota RAV4 SUV. Its drivetrain is powered exclusively by 24 12-volt batteries.
Performance
The RAV4EV has a governed top speed of 80 miles per hour, and a range of 80-120 miles on a full charge. Mileage depends on the same factors as a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle, mainly tire drag and average speed (aerodynamic drag). The RAV4EV has 24 12-volt 95Ah [NiMH] batteries capable of outputting 27.4kWh of energy.The RAV4EV has been demonstrated to outperform the traditional RAV4 in acceleration tests, and is capable of operating with the flow of traffic at any posted speed limit in the United States.
Charging
The RAV4EV's batteries can be recharged from being fully-depleted to fully-charged in about 5 hours. Charging is supplied via magnetic induction by a wall-mounted 6000-Watt charging unit on a 220 volt, 30 amp, North-American "clothes dryer"-type plug. The process of connecting the RAV4 EV to the home charger is as follows:
- The driver parks the RAV4 EV with the vehicle's grille within 8 feet of the charger (usually the back wall of a garage).
- The ignition is turned to 'off'.
- A button is pressed on the dashboard that opens a door built into the RAV4 EV's grille.
- The driver removes the cabled inductive charging paddle from the wall charger and inserts it into a receptacle behind the grille door.
- The charger checks the connection automatically, and charges the RAV4 EV
The time used to move a gas pump nozzle from the pump to the gas tank is equal to the time it takes to connect the RAV4 EV to the charger.
Mileage Costs
As of May, 2006, charging a RAV4EV from full-dead to full-charge, at a rate of US$0.09 per kilowatt-hour, costs around $2.70. As of May, 2006, this compares to a price-per-gallon cost of US$3.00, and makes mileage in the RAV4EV the cost equivalent to a 111.1-mile-per-gallon small SUV.In addition, the RAV4EV has a charge timer built into the dashboard that enables the vehicle start charging at a specific time. As the RAV4EV easily becomes the main cost of electricity in an average-sized home, this enables the owner to use a Time-Of-Day Meter to reduce electricity costs. This configuration is a standard practice with RAV4EV owners. The price of electricity at night depends by carrier, but is usually in the range of 60% of the normal rate. In the use of charging the RAV4EV, this equates to a cheaper cost-per-mile, roughly equivalent to a vehicle capable of 166.6 miles per gallon, based on a price of US$3.00 per gallon.
Wearable Items
The RAV4EV's battery system is a wearable item, and current costs are approximately US$26,000 to replace the battery pack, due to short supply. There are owners that currently have over 100,000 miles on the original battery packs without issue. The development of powerful Lithium ion batteries will make a large difference in this cost, as well as extend the range of the RAV4EV considerably.The remaining systems in the RAV4EV are comparable to the gas-powered RAV4, such as power brakes, power steering and air conditioning. These systems are of equal cost to maintain as the gas-powered RAV4.
History
Prototyping
RAV4 EV pre-production prototypes were first released in a confidential evaluation program with electric utilities throughout the U.S. These prototypes were based on the smaller, shorter, two-door version of the RAV4. The prototypes included some versions fitted with Panasonic NiMH batteries, and others with high-performance Panasonic Lead-acid PbA batteries (the same ones that eventually found their way into the EV1 and other production GM hybrids). The RAV4EV prototypes also were equipped with on-board Level II chargers and connected via a front fender conductive charger coupling made by Yazaki. Both prototypes were well accepted.The utility employee evaluators did not have to personally pay for the more costly and advanced NiMH batteries, and the NiMH RAV4 EV prototype received better reviews, due to its increased range. Its energy efficiency, however, was not as good as the PbA version. Due to the impracticality of developing two battery types for a limited volume program, Toyota opted for the higher-performance, higher-cost NiMH RAV4 EV. This resulted in a greater manufacturing cost, and higher purchase price.
A number of electric vehicle advocates voiced disappointment that the choice was made to manufacture only the NiMH version. Many electric vehicle advocates claim that automaker's choice of the NiMH battery worked against the 90's deployment of cost-effective electric vehicles based on PbA batteries, and that further development of Lead-acid technology could result in peformance equal to NiMH, but at a substantially lower price. Their argument is that a usable electric vehicle is possible at a substantially lower price, and that the lower purchase price would foster greater acceptance of electric vehicles.
Corporate Purchasing
RAV4 EVs were only available for sale at a few dealerships beginning in 1997, and were mostly on 5-year lease to companies in southern California.Public Availability
Beginning in February, 2002, the public could buy or lease this zero-emissions SUV in limited quantities at participating Toyota dealers in the Los Angeles and San Francisco regions. The MSRP was $42,000; but in California, rebates of $9,000 and a $3,000 credit from the Internal Revenue Service brought the price down to a more palatable $30,000, including the home charger. The RAV4 EV was meant to give Toyota additional vehicles to address the California Air Resources Board's zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which required 2% of a manufacturer's vehicle sales within the state to be ZEV's. The RAV4 EV was sold to the public for eight months, until the spring of 2003. The vehicle's retail had outsold its demand far faster than they could be supplied to market, despite very little advertising, and few people had ever been aware that they were available.Discontinuance
Toyota [discontinued the RAV4 EV program] one day after the passing of new air-quality requirements by CARB. CARB eliminated most of the ZEV requirement, substituting a greater number of partial zero-emissions vehicles (PZEVs) to meet the requirement. A Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) category was also added. This program requirement was designed to obtain equivalent emissions reductions by substituting less expensive, more general purpose vehicles.Continuing Support
Like other manufacturers, Toyota began destroying RAV4 EVs as they came off lease. In 2005 and agreement was struck between Toyota and DontCrush.com (now PlugInAmerica.com) to stop the destruction and and facilitate the continued operation of owned and leased vehicles. While no longer sold, the vehicle is still supported by selective Toyota service centers (mainly in California) and a strong owner community.The RAV4EV is driven daily by hundreds of owners, now across the country. These owners have built up an online community and have worked out ways to [add options to the RAV4EV never offered by Toyota], with the most popular being keyless door entry and cruise control.
Future Development
Toyota has not expressed interest in reviving the RAV4 EV line. Proponents for the RAV4 EV are hopeful that manufacturing processes will someday yield low-cost batteries capable of being powerful enough for the RAV4 EV drive system, and at a price that would be considered reasonable by the general public.Sales
| 1997 | 69 |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 359 |
| 1999 | 255 |
| 2000 | 106 |
| 2001 | 160 |
| 2002 - 1st half | 218 |
| 2002 - 2nd half | 82* |
| Total | 1249* |
* Indicates estimate
See also
External links
- [RAV4 EV Electric Vehicle Association]
- [RAV4 EV Discussion List]
- [Union of Concerned Scientists]
- [Who Killed the Electric Car?]
- [Plug In America]
- [Don't Crush]
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