Tesla To Supply Batteries For Toyota RAV4 EV

In a regulatory filing EV maker Tesla has revealed that it has won a $100million (£61.8million) supply contract with Toyota for batteries for a forthcoming RAV4 EV.

Tesla had previous been granted a contract by the Japanese company to develop batteries and motors for an all electric RAV4 SUV, worth $60million (£37million).  It would seem that agreement has now been extended so that Tesla will supply the batteries and motors for the production version of the car, over a contract period of 2012 to 2014.

Toyota took a 2.9 per cent stake in California based Tesla last year.

The EV maker, which manufactures the Lotus Elise based Roadster, will start production of its ‘Model S’ EV saloon next year at a factory in Fremont, California that it bought from Toyota and GM.  It is thought that the kit for supply to Toyota for the RAV4 will also be made at the factory.

Toyota has previous revealed the RAV4 EV will be available in the US from mid-2012 and have a range of 100 miles.  No plans have been announced to sell the car in the UK.

Other readers also found these posts interesting: