Jul. 13, 1995
Toyota to Support TMME's Scandinavian Electric
Car Rally Entry by Providing a RAV4 EV
Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that it will support Toyota Motor Europe Marketing & Engineering (TMME), its European subsidiary, in the Scandinavian Electric Car Rally, an electric vehicle (EV) race beginning August 1.
The purpose of the 565km, five-day race from Göteborg, Sweden to Oslo, Norway is two-fold: to promote the spread of EVs and to advance EV development technologies. This full-scale international rally, the first of its kind, will attract 30 entries from around the world.
Toyota will provide TMME with a RAV4 EV to compete in the rally's Series Production Cars category, which requires the production of 10 or more units for each model entered.
Through its technical support, TMC will obtain data on the vehicle's operation in the rally for use in ongoing EV development. The RAV4 EV, based on the RAV4, uses a nickel-metal hydride battery providing higher performance than conventional lead-acid batteries.
RAV4 EV Rally Car
Major Specifications
- Dimensions
- 3,695 (L) x 1,695 (W) x 1,610 (H) mm
- Vehicle weight
- 1,350kg
- Seating capacity
- 4 passengers
- Maximum speed
- 125km/h
- Engine/drive layout
- Front-engine, front-drive (FF)
- Battery type
- Sealed nickel-metal hydride battery
- Motor type
- Permanent magnet motor
Reference
RAV4 EV Battery
Toyota's RAV4 EV entry in the Scandinavian Electric Car Rally is equipped with sealed nickel-metal hydride batteries. The battery, which is still under development, shows promise for EV use because of its high capacity and power. Problems must be solved, however, before it can be put into practical use.
How a Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery Works
Using potassium hydroxide as the electrolyte, the nickel-metal hydride battery converts hydrogen energy to electricity. The anode is made of nickel, and the cathode is made of a hydrogen-storage alloy.
A major advantage of the nickel-metal hydride battery is its higher capacity and longer service life than a lead-acid battery.
There are disadvantages, however. Component materials for nickel-metal hydride batteries are more expensive than those for lead-acid batteries. Also, this type of battery is less robust than conventional batteries in high-temperature environments.
Downloads (Images)
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- RAV4 EV Rally Car
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