The New RAV4 EV

[efusco]

please ignore the dirt speck on my sensor...hate when that happens.

 

[vfx]

I liked that they could not get it to roll over.

 

[efusco]

I liked that they could not get it to roll over.

Some of the guys we were with made a concerted effort to do that...doing doughnuts in the parking lot. We burned as much rubber today as I do in a year on the Prius!!

 

[efusco]

Link to my flickr set of the Rav4EV
Rav4 EV - a set on Flickr


PEX Torrance 2012 by efusco, on Flickr

 

[jcstp]

On your pics I see a lot of old Rav Ev's too
Where their owners invited too?

 

[jkirkebo]

What I don't see on the Model S specs page is the motor RPM.

I believe I have read 16,000 RPM for the Model S motor before, and plans to up that to 18,000 RPM if possible.

 

[Kipernicus]

Link to my flickr set of the Rav4EV
Rav4 EV - a set on Flickr


PEX Torrance 2012 by efusco, on Flickr

I bet Toyota gets sued for copying the single button with holow square icon

But seriously, great review and pics. Thanks!

 

[jcstp]

 

[doug]

Thanks for posting those. The guy in the TTAC video seems to think that plastic cover is the motor (about the 40 sec mark).

 

[efusco]

On your pics I see a lot of old Rav Ev's too
Where their owners invited too?

Those are on the vehicle services lot at Toyota, a few dozen of them in various states of repair/disrepair that can't be sold, or given away and are just collecting dust as they die.

I bet Toyota gets sued for copying the single button with holow square icon

But seriously, great review and pics. Thanks!

We had similar thoughts, very iPod/iPhone like isn't it...that said, it is very convenient compared to traditional ways of navigating back to the home screen.

 

[efusco]

Videos

4 Brief videos I shot of my buddy driving the Rav4 EV yesterday.

 

[jcstp]

apparently not a 10 minute drive ;-)

 

[jcstp]

Those are on the vehicle services lot at Toyota, a few dozen of them in various states of repair/disrepair that can't be sold, or given away and are just collecting dust as they die.

are they being used for spare parts?


Now the new Rav uses Tesla parts, i guess it will become less of a problem to get spares

 

[doug]

lols at the 38 Special falsetto. :smile:

 

[stopcrazypp]

Trust me, it was MY pleasure!! What a blast that thing was and I just can't imagine what my Model S (non-perf even) is going to be like since it's faster, lower and better set up handling wise. I tell you, I think Toyota is really losing out on a huge opportunity here, this Rav is way better than any other EV available from any of the Big 3 or even the major manufactures. Were they to start shipping these things out to dealers for people to test drive they'd fall in love, I think.

Agreed. From the early reviews, this is looking to be the best EV outside of any Tesla branded one (not surprising given the DNA). The reviewers seems to have loved the drive and the accuracy of the range gauge (compared to the ones of other EVs like the Leaf).

It's a shame that it will only be available in California as a compliance vehicle. Toyota did say they might make their own depending on demand, and I don't think demand will be an issue once people start test driving it.

 

[efusco]

apparently not a 10 minute drive ;-)

We had the car for about 4 hours.

 

[efusco]

lols at the 38 Special falsetto. :smile:

Yea, sorry 'bout that. I love to sing but was not blessed with a voice even a mother could love!

 

[efusco]

Another walk around (set to music, no voiceover) by Tony Schaefer of the Rav4 EV.

 

[jcstp]

Another walk around (set to music, no voiceover) by Tony Schaefer of the Rav4 EV.

strangely the video does not appear on screen!

 

[JRP3]

RAV4EV not a compliance car:

Some people have called the RAV4 EV nothing more than a compliance car. Let’s get one thing straight. The ZEV mandate been around for more than 20 years. It’s a fact of life. Will the RAV4 EV help us meet our compliance requirements? Absolutely. Did we create a barebones EV just to earn credits for the mandate? Absolutely not.

Green Car Congress: Toyota RAV4 EV key for meeting California ZEV requirements; Tesla powertrain uses Model S components