Jan. 22, 1996

Toyota Starts Monitoring Program for Its New
High-Capacity Battery-Installed Electric Vehicle

First ever use of nickel-metal hydride batteries in an EV

 

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that it will start a program for monitoring the nickel-metal hydride-installed RAV4 EV in Japan and in the United States. This is the world's first monitor car installed with the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery.

Toyota started sales of the Town Ace EV in 1992, leasing of the Crown Majesta EV in1993, and started providing the RAV4 EV (with lead-acid batteries) for monitoring in July 1995. This RAV4 EV for monitoring, however, is installed with the newly-developed NiMH battery that is higher in capacity, longer in service life, and lighter in weight. The same type of battery was installed in the RAV4 EV when it won the FIA-authorized First Scandinavian Electric Car Rally, held in August 1995.

Six EVs will be monitored in Japan and seven in the United States, mainly in California, to accumulate data from actual vehicle use to be incorporated in further EV research and development.

Monitors
  • In Japan (6 units)
    Aichi Prefectural Govt., Kawasaki Municipal Govt., Osaka Municipal Govt., Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc., Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., and Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    [Reference: In addition to the above, Toyota will provide one unit of lead-acid battery-installed EV to Japan Electric Vehicle Association.]
  • In the U.S. (7 units)
    Southern California Edison (two units), and a number of other organizations
Major Specifications
Major Specifications