I didn't know about the Toyota Rav4 PHEV

[Codyozz]

Toyota Rav4 EV Flickr Photo Sharing .jpg

Is it just me or did this one just slip in under the radar? I knew Toyota was working on a Rav4 EV, but I didn't know it would be this set up! Here is the link to the article: http://www.greenerideal.com/vehicles...electric-cars/

The question is will it run in the same manner of the PiP? I'm guessing it will turn on the gas motor under heavy throttle. But it says 100 miles EV range? REALLY!!?

Here is another blurb on it from the Toyota website: http://www.toyota.com/concept-vehicl...610_p362160928

[nhern202]

GM needs to respond to that with the plug-in Chevy VUE.

[Sasparilla]

Attachment 4828

The question is will it run in the same manner of the PiP? I'm guessing it will turn on the gas motor under heavy throttle. But it says 100 miles EV range? REALLY!!?

Since the afforementioned website is the only one talking about the RAV4 EV being a plug-in hybrid (and Toyota refers to it as an EV) I have a feeling the website has its information incorrect.

With a pack big enough to give you real range over 100 miles the cost of adding the ICE component would be prohibitive - the car would be outrageously expensive.

The prototype vehicles were pure EV's and since Toyota has said they'll be limiting sales to CA (presumably to meet no emission requirements and not much more) I think you can rest assured that its actually just a EV.

[Codyozz]

I know right! The pack would have to be HUGE, and add to that a 2.0 liter motor?? The Toyota website says the same thing as the article. It talks about it like it's a PHEV. Something is going on here... and I would wager to say you are correct in assuming that they keep it an EV, and for California. I guess we will have to wait and see.

[Codyozz]

GM needs to respond to that with the plug-in Chevy VUE.

I would counter that GM should respond to this with an INDUSTRY-FIRST PHEV 7 passenger mini-van. I know that SUV's are still considered "much cooler than vans" but why chase a small segment? When you can go right for the jugular and take back the minivan segment! Here is my argument, There are 100's of 1000's of minivan moms out there, and 1000's of taxi's and tour minivans out there, and there are 100's of 1000's of SUV families out there that are struggling at the pump with their 12mpg behemoth.
Give them a van that goes 50 on EV, and then gets 30mpg... and you have a winner. HOWEVER, design it like a Dodge Caravan and you get nowhere. It needs to look almost as cool as the Cadillac CTS-V wagon. Make a short-wheelbased van... and a long wheel-based van and you'll own the market forever!

[zete]

It's an EV only. Toyota worked with Tesla on it and it's being produced here in Ontario. It is not a plugin hybrid. It's a pure EV. No onboard generator or engine.

[Henry_FL]

I would counter that GM should respond to this with an INDUSTRY-FIRST PHEV 7 passenger mini-van.

Based on Volt Sales to date, GM isn't going to spend another dime on the EREV platform .. I'd wager that we will hear soon the Cadillac version has been shelved. It will take sales to extend the platform .. nothing else matters from a profit point of view

[Sasparilla]

I know right! The pack would have to be HUGE

From what I've read the Rav4 EV pack will be 30+ kWh so the 100 miles of range is real world range - so other than the Tesla packs it'll be the biggest on the market.

A bit of a sad statistic in all this was that the EV's (GM EV1, Honda EV Plus) in California 15 years ago had 26 kWh NiMH packs. Looks like we'll have to wait till generation 2 comes out till we get Li kWh costs down below what NiMH still is.

[Sasparilla]

Based on Volt Sales to date, GM isn't going to spend another dime on the EREV platform .. I'd wager that we will hear soon the Cadillac version has been shelved. It will take sales to extend the platform .. nothing else matters from a profit point of view

While I hope GM execs do not drop the Converj again (since it's price would fit that market better and spread the infrastructure costs on another vehicle) - I would not be surprised to see exactly what you said here happen (it'd be where I'd place my bet).

[zete]

From what I've read the Rav4 EV pack will be 30+ kWh so the 100 miles of range is real world range - so other than the Tesla packs it'll be the biggest on the market.

A bit of a sad statistic in all this was that the EV's (GM EV1, Honda EV Plus) in California 15 years ago had 26 kWh NiMH packs. Looks like we'll have to wait till generation 2 comes out till we get Li kWh costs down below what NiMH still is.

Well, they are Tesla packs so ...