Rav4-EV Project
Last updated Sept. 5th 2007
The RAV4-EV is one of the last fully electric cars that were built, bought, and driven in California as mandated by state law. They went 100 miles on a charge and the RAV4-EV's batteries can be recharged from being fully depleted to fully charged in about 5 hours.
There is a lot to be said about this particular EV. First and foremost, It has 2 mounting brackets down below, to hold a generator to extend its endurance.
When going on long trips and or to provide power to various accessories when out "in the sticks" (camping, maybe?) a multi-purpose generator can enable recharging away from "the power grid".
First Test Drive in an Electric Car
Fort Lauderdale, Florida July 18, 2007
Folks, here are the events today: NEVER BEEN IN ONE, So, decided to see if I would have any problems with an ELECTRIC CAR. Drove it today. Problems?
None, in fact, the torque at acceleration is BETTER by far in comparison to the gas/mechanical. There is a comfortable smoothness that a lot of folks are going to get accustomed too and not want to return to the nechanical shift transmission. For the racing types, the torque is more efficient in getting to the speed desired.
Toyota made a car for EASY transition to a new power source. Selling a car has to do more with selling versus what powers a car. If it fits the need and budget, they like it, the power source, NO GAS STATIONS, seals a customer for life, hence the folks that fought so hard as seen in the movie. Makes more sense to me now that I drove one.
Backing up, preparing to head for the beach!
Seems like Toyota knew what I think is key: build a car that has unique appeal that does a lot of things a GAS CAR CANNOT DO without making any big deal out of the electric power source part. That will prove itself as described above and no gas stops.
Understand that monthly sales up from 10,000 a month to 24,000 month [in May] on the Toyota Prius since the car became part of regular product line. True?
Well, the question of the auxiliary generator came up. I know internationally that taxi drivers, private in most countries, are switching their gas cars to LP gas. I had a demonstration in the Dominican Republic. The generator to extend range should be able to be purchased either gas or LP gas. Gasoline gets old quick if generator will not be kicking in often or is removed from car.
David, range appears to be accurate. Charles is coming today to check on technical.
Marketing. No one can see that this is electric only. So...what do you think of a wrap around advertising package like you see on the city buses? We are working on the clip art and language tonight during baseball game promotion. We actually were going to use the RAV4 to bring the pitchers from the bull pen to the diamond just like the major league!
Now that WOULD BE SEEN!
Paul Renneisen,
Wood Bat Baseball Coach,
Commercial Airline Pilot, Veteran
ELECTRIC CAR MAKES ROUND TRIP
between South Florida AirportsFriday through Saturday, August 10-11
From far north Fort Lauderdale to Miami International Airport Long term car park, an ALL ELECTRIC Toyota RAV4 made a ROUND TRIP WITHOUT RECHARGE during airport stop, Friday through Saturday, August 10-11. The trip was uneventful. Full air conditioned trip to Miami international in 93 degree heat. Very comfortable. Traffic was heavy with frequent stops on I-95 for tailbacks. Return trip was late evening. Lights were on and windows rolled down to enjoy a beautiful night on the return. Quiet, smooth, and energy to spare. 20% charge remained on arrival home. "Refuel" light had turned on just as we reached downtown Fort Lauderdale Saturday night.
A round trip from Fort Lauderdale to Miami International in the Toyota all electric RAV4 has been done. It appears it can be done with all accessory devices on full. Arrival would be at about empty for a full recharge.
The reduction in available energy is very linear. That is, unlike gas car fuel gages where the needle just drops a lot all of a sudden, even in standing traffic, the electric use is very defined and only occurs with motion of the vehicle. Very calming to see the needle stays steady and declines slightly during use.
Well, still looking for reasons NOT to buy one. Gary, our observer, has already priced the replacement battery pack. Must have visions of "converting" something else.
Vehicle was fully charged and ready for another day early this morning, Sunday August 12th. Today it will appear at Hollywood American Legion Post 92, downtown Hollywood abeam railroad tracks, at 1:00 PM for annual installation of officers ceremony there. Stop by this popular old Hollywood Florida venue for a view of America's future on wheels.
Paul Renneisen
Fort Lauderdale
click for enlargements
A summary update on the RAV4 Fort Lauderdale:
Sept. 5, 2007
The charging station at 3121 NE 57th Court has worked error free for about two months. No problems noted. No vandalism. It goes unnoticed by the neighbors.
The RAV4 works error free as well. AC kicks out and does not draw down on remaining electric like a gas motor at idle would. Very linear fuel use which builds user confidence that they can get to where they want to go without worry. Takes time in use to build this confidence after being abused by gasoline gages that drop off quickly sometimes.
Marketing. While everyone wants to buy this car or one like it, there are no answers for them. The request to buy is spontaneous. No solicitation is made. The desire to have one is more the case by even those NOT looking for a new or used car.
Cost of marketing. There are a few bucks involved. We are at a juncture here. Either go full blast into making the electric RAV4 a KNOWN item to be seen at various venues in South Florida, OR just drive it around for the occasional curiosity seeker who may see "Electric Vehicle" on the side. Patricia and I, as well as the kids for service hours, are willing to put in the time to promote, but, as you see at most public venues and car shows, promotional material that ties together will be needed. The "plug in" yellow and black on the www.pluginamerica.org website is a "tie together" piece we might want to use also on the cover of a pamphlet showing the RAV4 wrapped with promotional language.
Either way, we make a splash or a whimper. The Sun Sentinel made our battery power of the Volt look definitely like a whimper as range would be only 20 tops 40 miles. The RAV4 gets 100 miles proving it can be done! The portability feature is definitely a positive for many marketing reasons. Give salesmen options to sell, the buyer will find the money.
Well, the oil types wouldn`t think twice about marketing a splash in their favor.
Choices in marketing: There is suddenly a lot of competition in wrapped vehicles. This is bringing pricing down and with it quality. The differences are now apparent as one wrapped vehicle may be next to another. Either way, when there are more wraps rolling, the best wrap wins. That is why we were carefull to not include too much language and eliminated any body functions that were not needed, for example, using only the girls expressions just the heads. Vehicle is also small but many folks have RAV4's. The only way to know, as they say in advertising, that we have a CONTROL piece is to establish it. When views are measured the next piece would have to exceed this one, or you keep going with a winner, like AA's "Something special in the air" was so good, new advertising campaigns could not surpass it with the public. That is why it became the control and was used so long by AA.
Miami Airport Promotion: I think a "splash" of media would be better to have in advance of our meeting with officials there to establish a charging station. The valet park is probably where the electric cars will end up. Again, the effort is to reduce costs so this is not so good an option. It is all about educating the public about being able to "plug in"
That is all! Check www.pluginamerica.org for latest.
My schedule is New York, Santo Domingo, home Saturday and Sunday, Fort Worth Texas all next week. First opportunity to deliver RAV4 for Wrap if we go with the proof and pricing will be Wednesday, September 19th. Use decision time and proof revision time wisely.
I have a $ 500 deposit with Exotic Signs. If we are no go, I will request that back less perhaps, some proof fees. I don`t know details. Magnetic signs run a few hundred apiece. Will look into.
Charles, how goes the converion? All blog back your comments. Thanks.
PAUL RENNEISEN
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