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The New RAV4 EV
- Thread starter EVNow
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JRP3
Hyperactive Member
$47,000-$60,000? Ouch. How is that going to compete with a Model S? RAV4's aren't competing with BMW's and Mercs. If the RAV had four wheel drive it might have a chance but choosing between a 2wd RAV and a Model S seems like the S is a clear winner.
If that sales person is like the usual sales guys, he was just making up the price. Notice how he talks about a much higher range than what Toyota has promised (about 100 "real" miles).
Not that after sales tax & before fed. tax credit, the price won't reach $45K.
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JRP3
Hyperactive Member
Well, I imagine some people need the higher ground clearance and the Model X is a ways off. Also, I think the RAV4EV are more likely to offer things like a hitch, roof racks etc.
I do need either a hitch or a roof rack, having both would be preferable. Having none is a deal breaker.
After markets roof racks are available for most cars. They are now available for Leaf as well from Yakima. You will probably get them for S.
My Nissan Leaf Forum View topic - Roof Rack
Picasa Web Albums - David Hopper - LEAF
After market hitches might be ok if the manufacturer indicates a towing limit. If the limit is 0 lbs then towing is illegal and the hitch is of no use (this is the situation on the Toyota Prius over here). So it depends also on what Tesla says about hitches, not only what an after market supplyer can put together.
Thule is the most common roof rack manufacturer over here, but to use a roof rack you need proper mounting points. This might be a problem for cars with the glass roof ?
roblab
Active Member
The old RAV4EV was hitched by many of its owners, and in the US that is not illegal, just not warrantied. (If any damage occurs to the vehicle, and it is deemed to be caused by the hitch, Toyota does not have to repair.) That said, there was no weight limit implied or given, and most of us just used small trailers and common sense, although hauling a 1500 lb load of bricks was not out of the question. I imagine it will be the same with Tesla. If you use bigger speakers on their car, they do not warranty them. I plan to have a tow bar, and there are several places that will probably make it custom out of aluminum. We shall see. Obviously, since it was very like the gas RAV4, it was not a question of weight, but of motors getting too hot trying to get their boat to the lake at 70 mph up hill. Electric cars are not for everybody, maybe that group who are unable to understand the reasons.
As to roof rack and glass roof, doesn't the metal roof with sun roof option take up the same space? I suspect the mounting points will be outside the edge of the glass roof, between the roof and the door. Here again, we shall see. And maybe Tesla will not support ANY rack manufacturer. But some will still have racks.
Rob
As to roof rack and glass roof, doesn't the metal roof with sun roof option take up the same space? I suspect the mounting points will be outside the edge of the glass roof, between the roof and the door. Here again, we shall see. And maybe Tesla will not support ANY rack manufacturer. But some will still have racks.
Rob
strider
Active Member
RE: charge rates...
I wonder if it has anything to do w/ the upcoming plug-in Prius? Maybe the EVSE was already designed for the Prius and since it's battery pack is quite small they went low-power on the EVSE? I realize that shouldn't have anything to do w/ max charge rates if you're at a public charger but I'm just throwing that out there.
I wonder if it has anything to do w/ the upcoming plug-in Prius? Maybe the EVSE was already designed for the Prius and since it's battery pack is quite small they went low-power on the EVSE? I realize that shouldn't have anything to do w/ max charge rates if you're at a public charger but I'm just throwing that out there.
I was thinking the same thing.
It also makes you think again about why the Leaf has only a 16A (3.3kW) charger built in.
Sometimes I wonder if some concession was made to the power industry to say that the new breed of EVs wouldn't overload the Grid too much? (No proof, just a wild theory.)
It also makes you think again about why the Leaf has only a 16A (3.3kW) charger built in.
Sometimes I wonder if some concession was made to the power industry to say that the new breed of EVs wouldn't overload the Grid too much? (No proof, just a wild theory.)
JRP3
Hyperactive Member
I'm thinking it's all about cost savings. Seems as if certain levels of power increases lead to large jumps in component pricing, especially in a newly emerging market such as EV chargers.
strider
Active Member
strider
Active Member
Yeah but if they're already buying the Tesla PEM that supports 70A, why limit it? I guess Tesla could be building a cheaper version that can't handle 70A.
Yes, Leaf doesn't have active cooling.
They claim they will add a 6.6kW charger option in future, so I suspect they think the battery chemistry can handle it. They also allow quick charge at over 10x the current, but they say that doing that does age the batteries more than a 'normal' charge.
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