Battery supply constraints delaying Toyota RAV4 Prime
Amid all the national fanfare and my column in The Post two weeks ago, concern has been raised regarding availability of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, a new plug- in hybrid offering up to 42 miles of all- electric drive.
The RAV4 is the best- selling SUV crossover in the country and to achieve a 42- mile electric capability puts it atop all plug- in hybrids. My auto column two weeks ago entitled “Toyota RAV4 reinforces leader role with Prime plug- in” brought this email response from a reader:
“Mr. Wells, My wife and I are very interested in the Toyota Rav4 Prime XSE. I have called Denver area dealerships and they seem to want to sell us a 2020 Rav4 Hybrid, saying they may not see the Rav4 Prime in Colorado until late 2021 or even 2022. I do know the RAV4 Prime are being shipped to zero- emission states now, but another 14- 16 months before they ship to Colorado? Do you have any knowledge regarding what’s what? This is disconcerting, to say the least. We look forward to your thoughts on this issue. – Mike and Sherrill Rothmier.”
It was my understanding that RAV4 Prime models would be distributed this fall only to dealerships in states with standards in place for zero emission vehicles ( ZEV), which include Colorado, California, Oregon and Washington in the West and
Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont in the East.
“Unforeseen battery supply constraints” seem to have put a hold on that plan, according to a Toyota executive.
“While our goal is to increase availability in the near future, unforeseen battery supply constraints may limit our initially planned production volume for calendar year 2020 and 2021,” said Christine Henley, Western Communications Manager for Toyota Motor North America. “Our plan is to allocate RAV4 Prime to all states as efficiently and strategically as possible, while also meeting our regulatory ZEV requirements. We don’t have any further information on the status of planned production levels for calendar year 2021.”
Up- front in the new Toyota RAV4 Prime interior.
Zero emission vehicles ( ZEV) are ones that have the potential to produce no direct tailpipe emissions. Although they can still have a conventional internal combustion engine, they must be able to operate without using it, said Henley.
In 350 miles aboard the Prime,
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug- in hybrid. ( Bud Wells photo) ( Toyota)
during which on three nights I charged the lithium- ion battery pack, the RAV4 posted an average of 51.1 miles per gallon.
In addition to the new battery pack, the Prime uses three motorgenerators and a 2.5- liter, 4- cylinder Atkinson gas engine similar to that which powers the RAV4’ s regular Hybrid model. The Prime gains quick, smooth acceleration from the combined 302 horsepower.
To opt for the ’ 21 Prime over the standard Hybrid is a jump in cost. Sticker price on the well- equipped RAV4 Prime XSE with all- wheel drive is $ 48,461; that’s about $ 10,000 higher than the regular RAV4 Hybrid. Toyota has been the car industry’s hybrid leader for 20 years, since unveiling the Prius in 2000.