If any car company could produce a workable electric vehicle, it should be Toyota, maker of the world's most ubiquitous hybrid car. And indeed, the RAV4 EV an electric version of the Japanese company's popular light SUV was a good try. It had a top speed of 78 mph and a range of up to 120 miles on a single charge. But charging the RAV4 EV wasn't as simple as plugging in your cell phone. Drivers had to purchase a separate wall-mounted, 6000-watt charging unit, which helped keep the car's cost above $40,000. In 2003 Toyota discontinued the RAV4 EV and began recalling the vehicles, but hundreds of drivers have held onto their cars, and have event taken to trading customization tips online.
The History of the Electric Car
Since the advent of the automobile, car makers have struggled to build mainstream electric vehicles. Here are their best and worst attempts