The new Toyota RAV4 EV is set to be unveiled in Los Angeles next week at the 26th International Electric Vehicle Symposium.
The new RAV4 EV is expected to be an updated version of the Toyota RAV4 EV seen at the 2010 Los Angeles motor show which was the result of a joint venture between Toyota and exclusive EV brand Tesla. The partnership sees Toyota provide the base vehicle for the project and Tesla Motors building and supplying the battery, motor, gearbox and power electronics.
The new Toyota RAV4 EV is due to go on sale in the US in mid 2012 but rumours suggest sales will be limited to California only. Toyota is claiming a range of about 100 miles (160km) between charges, roughly the same as the Nissan Leaf’s 175km range (based on the New European Driving Cycle).
Toyota will be hoping this next-generation RAV4 EV proves more successful than its first effort that was produced between 1998-2003, of which only 1484 units were sold or leased in the US.
While there are no plans to offer the RAV4 EV in Australia at this stage, the next-generation petrol-powered Toyota RAV4 should reach showrooms here in early 2013.