Toyota to work with Tesla on EV

Toyota RAV4 EV debuts with Tesla powertrain, promising an electric SUV with 150-mile range, 2012 US launch, $40,000 price target, prototypes delivered, challenging Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, and Mitsubishi i-MiEV.

Toyota and Tesla are to work together to produce an electric version of Toyota's RAV4 EV, the automakers announced.

The vehicle is set to hit the US roads in 2012, according to a joint statement, and will be based on Toyota's RAV4 model with Tesla's electric powertrain.

Given Toyota's dominance of the hybrid market and Tesla's status as the only U.S. automaker to have an EV in production and on the market, the announcement is likely to significantly increase pressure on Nissan, Mitsubishi and Chevrolet, all of whom will release electric vehicles in the US later this year.

The first prototype is already complete, according to Tesla, and further models will be delivered to Toyota later this year for evaluation ahead of a public release, including at auto shows later this year.

Reports have suggested that the vehicle could have a range of 150 miles 241 kilometers and a price tag of $40,000 €30,775, but details have not been confirmed by either company.

Tesla founder Elon Musk and Toyota boss Akio Toyoda originally confirmed a tie-up between their companies in May, saying that they would work together on EV development for the project.

Since then, rumors have persisted that it would be a RAV4, which once existed as an EV when Toyota was experimenting with the technology between 1997 and 2003 but was discontinued as Toyota's dominance in hybrid technology grew even as it held back in the EV race thanks to its star car, the Prius.

Nevertheless, the 1,575 RAV4 EVs that Toyota created were a hit with drivers, with many still in operation today and owners reporting that some of the fairly primitive NiMH battery packs have achieved over 240,000 km without needing a replacement.

Now, Toyota will be looking to improve on its original attempt at the RAV4, by integrating the newer powertrains produced by Tesla for its €84,000 Roadster sports car.

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