Tesla Signs $60 Million Contract With Toyota 233
thecarchik writes "Tesla Motors announced that it has reached a $60 million deal with Toyota to develop the powertrain for an electric version of the strong-selling Rav4 sport utility vehicle. A prototype RAV4 Electric will be unveiled by Toyota at November's Los Angeles Auto Show. The company plans to sell the electric RAV4 starting in 2012, the same year that a number of new electric cars will join the 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2011 Chevrolet Volt in the US market."
Re:Excellent news (Score:5, Interesting)
Tesla cars have no problem doing 60 MPH, and they get there in under 6 seconds, even the 4-door. They have a range of over 300 miles. That's good enough for anything but cross-country trips. If anyone has swallowed the marketing, I'd say you have: it doesn't matter how long they've been building them, it only matters what they can build.
What's old is new again (Score:5, Interesting)
The only real question here is why they are working with Tesla. There are plenty of good opportunities for conspiracy theorists on this one...
Re:Excellent news (Score:1, Interesting)
People do more than just drive back and forth to work. The Nissan Leaf advertises 100 mile range but when you read the fine print thats on flat ground with no AC and an average speed of 20 miles per hour. When you drive at 55 miles per hour with the AC on that reduces it down to a range of 60 miles.
On the week ends I go mountain biking. The closest trail is about 28 miles away and the posted speed limit on the highway here is 70 miles per hour. During the summer it gets up between 90-100 degrees here so there is no way I'm driving without AC. Even if I make it all the way home, there is no way I can go anywhere else that day. So I can't stop at the bike shop on my way, go buy groceries or dinner afterwards.
In contrast my Sentra which cost less than half the cost of the Leaf can make it there and back and every where I travel that day using ~2 gallons of fuel with the AC on. So why should I buy an electric car when I can buy a better gas powered car for less money?
Re:might i say (Score:5, Interesting)
I was part of the business development team that made this happen.
Toyota was actually one of four OEMs we were talking to, and the least likely at the outset, but the rest were moving too slowly.
Toyota was the only manufacturer that didn't put the brakes on the deal.
Re:might i say (Score:1, Interesting)
1st gen Prius Owner here (2001). I changed the front brakes myself at 164,000 miles. There was still some wear left on them. Factory original brakes lasting for the "expected" life of a vehicle. Personally, I'm driving this thing to 250k at least and won't need another car for 4-5 years. By then, I'll probably grab an electric.