Toyota Charges Up ZEV Monitoring Program

TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 22, 1996 /PRNewswire/ -- On the eve of a two-year monitoring program designed to test the everyday practicality of its RAV4-EV, Toyota is proving that it is a legitimate and serious player in the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) arena.

The RAV4-EV represents Toyota's ongoing commitment to ZEV technology, and the company's long-standing dedication to produce quality vehicles that minimize environmental impact.

Toyota’s RAV4-EV represents four years of styling and technology updates, moving from a concept car to a fully functional testbed. It is a front-wheel drive, two-door, four-seat vehicle utilizing basic chassis platform and interior componentry similar to Toyota’s all-new RAV4 sport utility vehicle.

Introduced four years ago at the Tokyo Motor Show as the EV-50 and subsequently updated in both technology and styling, the RAV4-EV has moved quickly from concept car to fully functional engineering test bed. It is a front-wheel drive, two-door, four-seat vehicle utilizing basic chassis platform and interior componentry similar to Toyota's all-new RAV4 sport utility vehicle.

Two forms of energy storage are currently being tested: valve-regulated lead acid and nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH). Batteries are arranged in a flat configuration and mounted under the floor for a low center of gravity and maximum passenger space. The permanent magnet motor is transversely mounted under the hood. Charging is performed through a conductive connection and requires a 220-volt power supply. The RAV4-EV carries its charger on-board, eliminating the need for additional equipment. The charger incorporates a timer function allowing the vehicle to be charged during off-peak hours when electricity is least expensive. The charger automatically turns off when charging is completed.

The one-speed transmission has shifter settings for park, reverse,neutral, drive and brake. The brake setting, similar to the low gear of a conventional motorized vehicle, uses the motor to help slow the vehicle. RAV4-EV is also equipped with a regenerative braking system that converts the motor into a generator during braking, thereby recharging the batteries. Special low rolling-resistance, size 195/80R16, lightweight tires also help to improve range.

The RAV4-EV is approximately 146 in. long, 67 in. wide, and 63 in.tall. It rides on an 87-in. wheelbase with a 58-in. tread width, and weighs 3,219 lbs. Models equipped with lead-acid batteries can travel nearly 75 miles under urban driving conditions, while NiMH-equipped models are able to travel over 100 miles on a single charge. Top speed is over 70 mph.

The Toyota monitoring program, scheduled to last approximately two years, will see RAV4-EVs placed with utility companies in California, New York, and Michigan. As all systems in an EV are battery powered, certain driving conditions create extreme challenges. Vehicles will be evaluated under the most demanding circumstances from gridlocked Los Angeles in 100-degree summers to freezing winters in Detroit.

Toyota has confirmed that it will be working hand-in-hand with Southern California Edison (SCE), Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) in California. Pending agreements with other utilities in California and New York will bring the number of companies involved up to six.

Initially, seven vehicles will be used for the two year field test program and will be shared amongst the six utilities. Of those seven vehicles, four are equipped with data loggers -- somewhat like an airliner's "black box" -- that will report back to Toyota on vehicle and battery performance and temperature, charging information and driving situations. The data loggers have been placed in both the lead acid- and NiMH-"fueled" vehicles. Three additional RAV4-EVs will be used directly by Toyota for testing in both hot and cold weather.

Current pending legislation in California mandates that by 1998, two percent of the vehicles that a manufacturer sells in the state must produce zero emissions. By 2003, that number is to increase to ten percent. In today's technology, zero emissions means electric vehicles.

The premature introduction of a technology into the marketplace that is not fully tested may create a backlash that could adversely affect public acceptance of the future introduction of ZEVs. What Toyota learns during its monitoring program -- about vehicle reliability, recharging and consumer perception toward EVs -- will direct future product plans. Regardless of the arguments about whether 1998 is too soon to impose a ZEV mandate in California or not, Toyota is committed to selling the safest, highest quality, best value cars and trucks, and intends to continue to do business in California. If the mandate is imposed, Toyota will sell an EV that will incorporate many years of testing, research and development, and will be as close to ideal as technology will allow.