Toyota prices RAV4 EV at $50,610 before tax incentives

Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled the production version of its RAV4 electric vehicle, which carries a battery pack and electric motor system developed in collaboration with Tesla Motors.

The crossover will carry a sticker price of $50,610 including an $810 destination charge but before available tax incentives of $2,500 in California and $7,500 at the federal level.

The RAV4 EV will go on sale this summer in Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles/Orange County and San Diego. Sales volume is targeted at about 2,600 units over the next three years.

The driving range rating of 100 miles is a real-world range, not a best-case scenario achieved by being delicate with the accelerator pedal, said George Blankenship, Tesla vice president of sales.

The crossover has a charging time of about six hours on a 240-volt charger. Toyota has selected Leviton Manufacturing Co. to supply charging equipment. The lithium ion battery warranty is eight years or 100,000 miles.

The front-wheel-drive RAV4 EV has two driving modes. In Sport mode, the vehicle travels from 0 to 60 mph in seven seconds and has a maximum speed of 100 mph. In Normal mode, the vehicle goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds with a maximum speed of 85 mph.

Maximum output from the electric powertrain is 154 hp at 2,800 rpm.

Compared with the gasoline-powered RAV4, Toyota restyled the front bumper, upper and lower grille, side mirrors, rear spoiler and underbody design to maximize airflow around the vehicle.

The RAV4 EV weighs 470 pounds more than a RAV4 V6, but the weight is mostly from the battery pack. That means it has a lower center of gravity, and thus handles better than the gas-powered version, said Bob Carter, Toyota Division general manager.

The joint-venture product comes two years after an equity partnership was unveiled between Toyota and Tesla, and just 22 months after the companies said they would develop the vehicle.

The RAV4 EV will be assembled at Toyota's factory in Woodstock, Ontario.

By Mark Rechtin- Automotive News