Quick Ride

by Chris Raley
April 2002

with Tony Kilcollins

Actor is First Retail Customer for Toyota RAV4-EV
The first non-fleet retail sale of a Toyota RAV4-EV was made to actor and environmentalist Ed Begley, Jr. The purchase was made March 4th in Hollywood as Toyota began selling the zero-emission RAV4-EV to retail customers in California.

In addition to the RAV4-EV, Begley, Jr. is also the owner of a Toyota Prius gas/electric hybrid vehicle.

"The RAV4-EV demonstrates Toyota's commitment to the environment, the EV market and consumers like myself who are looking for a functional zero-emissions vehicle to meet their everyday needs," said Begley, Jr. "I'm very excited and honored to be the first retail owner of a RAV4-EV in California."

The RAV4-EV is a zero-emission, electric version of the Toyota RAV4 sport utility vehicle. The RAV4-EV has a manufacturers suggested retail price of $42,000. The California Air Resources Board offers a $9,000 incentive and the IRS a $3,000 tax credit.

EV Across the Country
The idea of taking an EV on a long trip is something that takes a lot of thought, but it is not undoable. Just ask Kris Trexler. In 1998 he took his EV-1 on a 3,275-mile trip across the country. He started in Los Angeles and ended in Troy, Michigan just outside of Detroit. The trip took just under a month, starting on May 12 and ending on June 2.

If you're thinking of planning the next cross-country trip take a look at Trexler's Web site. His diary page has detailed descriptions of each day out on the road. He tells you about the route he took, where and when he charged and how his battery performed on various grades. It's a great resource for anyone looking to Detroit or farther.

Conversion Extravaganza
You don't have to buy a pre-made EV from a notable car manufacturer to get into electric powered vehicles. Some individuals have chosen to convert existing gasoline powered cars into EVs. Check out these Web sites to get an idea of what you'll be in for when you take this route.

Ken Norwick took a 1996 Saturn SL-1 four-door sedan and converted it to electric power in about six months. The resident of Calgary, Alberta, Canada then created a Web site diary that follows the project every step of the way and gives lots of details. Looking down the topics on the Web site index you'll find that virtually everything from the rear battery rack layout to the heater completion and testing is covered. As of Christmas 2001 the car had been on the road for six months and Norwick writes that, "except for a single bad battery, [the car] has performed flawlessly as my daily commuter." Read more at http://advanceguard.dhs.org/conversion/.

Electric cars aren't the only kind of electric vehicles out there. Jerry Bowden has completed his second electric bike. His new bike has a direct gear drive that eliminates chain noise and maintenance and the batteries sit on the back of the bike. Check out the photos and descriptions on Bowden's Web site at http://hometown.aol.com/dane1948/page/index.htm.

Chris Raley is a freelance writer and technology enthusiast. Tony Kilcollins is an Associate Editor for Litewheels.