Toyota Motor Co. (Japan) announced that it will begin offering the electric version of its RAV4 sport-utility vehicle to retail customers in California beginning in February 2002.
Beginning in 2003, the California Air Resources Board zero-emissions vehicle mandate will take effect, requiring 10 percent of all new vehicles sold in California to meet low-emissions standards, with two percent qualified as zero-emission vehicles. With the introduction of the RAV4-EV to the retail market, Toyota stated that it will move toward compliance with this requirement.
The RAV4-EV is powered by a maintenance-free, permanent magnet motor, producing 50kW of power (equivalent to a 67HP gasoline engine). It has a top speed of 78mph and has a range of 80 to 100 miles per charge.
The RAV4-EV will have a manufacturers suggested retail price of $42,000, but a $9,000 incentive from the Air Resources Board and a $3,000 Internal Revenue Service credit will bring the price down to $30,000, which includes an in-home charging device.