Toyota and Tesla Motors’ fi rst joint offering, the second-generation RAV 4 EV, is almost here
IN AUTOMOTIVE CIRCLES, Tesla Motors’ claim to fame is based on their sterling Roadster, the world’s first fully electric sports car.
But there’s more to this Silicon Valley start-up than the Roadster. In the course of the past nine years, the electric vehicle (EV) specialists have built up an enviable list of renowned clients who want to harness the firm’s considerable expertise in electric propulsion to develop their own next-gen EVs and hybrids.
Two years ago, Toyota invested about $50 million (approximately Rs 275 crore) in Tesla Motors. The first fruits of this strategic partnership were unveiled recently at the EVS 2012 in Los Angeles in the form of the production-ready Toyota RAV 4 EV – a completely electric take on Toyota’s popular SUV.
A massive 422 kg of batteries provide the power for the RAV4 EV, mounted low down in the centre of the vehicle to improve weight distribution. Toyota say that despite the new powertrain, no compromises have been made on passenger space. Two driving modes offer the choice of speed or economy: Normal and Sport. ‘Normal’ will send the RAV4 from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 140 km/h, the ‘Sport’ mode will do the same in 7.0 seconds and up to 160 km/h. On full tap, the batteries provide the equivalent of 156 PS of conventional power to the front wheels.
The RAV4’s body has been modified, too. More streamlined addenda (including bumper, grille, mirrors, underbody and rear spoiler) drop the RAV4’s Cd to just 0.30 for gains in economy and top speed. Toyota claim that makes it the most slippy SUV on the planet. While the 160-km range is generous, a full charge takes six full hours from a 240V/40A charger. The RAV4 EV comes with a standard 120-volt charging cable, although Toyota are working with Leviton to provide 240-volt home charging stations for owners.
The original RAV 4 EV, unveiled in 1997, was one of the first mass-produced EVs to gain widespread popularity with its more famous sibling, the Prius. Its successor will be built at Toyota’s plant in Woodstock, Ontario, and first deliveries in the US are scheduled in the latter half of this year, mostly to government and commercial fleet operators across California. A sticker price of about Rs 27 lakh is on a par with other comparable EVs currently plying in the US, but it is still a substantial rise over conventionally powered SUVs. None the less, this second-generation RAV 4 EV is eagerly anticipated because it is a marker of the collaboration between two of the world’s leviathans in their respective fields.
Story: Saeed Akhtar
