Toyota/Tesla new RAV4 EV Coming Soon?

I have said before that the EV that has the features/volume that I want
most is the Ford Transit Connect BEV... It works for me.

Well, it would if I could get one.
Right now it's only being offered for fleet sales.

But a new Toyota/Tesla RAV4 EV said to be under development would
move straight to the top of my list.

"Toyota Motor Corp. and Tesla Motors Inc. will develop battery-powered
test versions of the Japanese carmaker’s RAV4 and Lexus RX in the first
stage of a partnership in electric vehicles, a person familiar with the
matter said.

"Tesla said July 10 that it will deliver two prototypes vehicles to Toyota
this month without identifying the models. While Toyota also aims to test
an electric Corolla compact car, the RAV4 and RX light trucks are better
suited to the weight of Tesla’s battery pack, said the person, who asked
not to be identified because the vehicles haven’t been announced yet."

Bring it on.:rockon:

 

I'm wondering if Toyota will offer a choice between 2WD and 4WD
versions.

I'm primarily interested in the enclosed volume, :rockon:
not an "urban explorer" mentality/capability.

However, this past winter's snowfall experience -- annual record
total jumped from 50+ inches to 90+ inches -- can't be forgotten.
Our neighborhood streets were never plowed during the 2 week
ordeal.

If we are at some turning point in weather patterns and experience
one or two more similar "snow events" before the RAV4-EV is
available, I just may have to change my mind.

 

This AutoBlog Green article says this about traction battery architecture:

"The new RAV4s will use Tesla's liquid cooled lithium ion battery
configuration that contains thousands of commodity laptop cells. The first
prototype is already running and a larger fleet will be prepared this year
for durability testing by Toyota."

Comments are worth reading too on range speculations and go-pedal vs.
brake pedal glide/regen selection.

BREAKING: Tesla and Toyota to develop RAV4 EV, hope to launch in 2012

I find it hard to believe that Toyota would switch from go-pedal
positioning for regen/glide/EV selection.

However, if the RAV4-EV is aimed at the broader market of
SUV drivers, there may be reason to think that the typical ICE
accelerator and brake pedal functions would be mapped across:
- no-pedal gliding
- accelerator pedal for powered operation
- brake pedal for regen then combined regen/friction braking

There'd be no fun in that!

Edit: Interesting discussion at the MyNissanLeaf forum.