Toyota, Honda roll out electric vehicle models.

Companies will begin marketing vehicles next year

DOWNTOWN L.A. - The Torrance-based U.S. sales divisions of Toyota and Honda last week unveiled electric vehicles they will begin marketing in California next year.

The vehicles were introduced at back-to-back press conferences on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, just prior to the opening of the "Eco Expo" environmental trade show.

Ironically, the introductions came just a couple of weeks after the California Air Resources Board changed its 1998 mandate that 2 percent of vehicles sold in the state produce no air-polluting emissions. Zero emissions sales quotas have been rolled back to 2003.

While the Toyota RAV4-EV and the Honda EV are the first commercial vehicles to be powered by nickel-metal hydride batteries, boast a practical driving range of more than 100 miles and have a limited top speed of about 80 mph, the models are quite different.

The RAV4-EV is a modified version of Toyota's compact RAV4 sports utility, the combustion version of which was introduced to the U.S. market earlier this year. The Honda EV, a high-profile, four-door hatchback that vaguely resembles a minivan, is a new vehicle designed specifically for the EV market.

Copying conventional autos

Both vehicles fairly emulate conventional automobiles, with gear shifts patterned after automatic transmissions and charge meters designed to look like fuel gauges. While the RAV4-EV contains instrumentation that's slightly modified from what is found in the gasoline-powered model, Honda designed a multicolored liquid crystal instrument panel for its electric vehicle.

Both vehicles also have air conditioning, stereo systems, power windows and door locks, as well regenerative braking systems that recharge the batteries whenever the brake pedal is pressed.

"We're trying to make an electric vehicle that performs as close to possible as a gas-powered automobile," said George E. Borst, group vice president for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.

One feature the Honda EV has that the RAV4-EV lacks: a keychain pad that gives the driver a remote readout of the battery charge. It can also be used to lock or unlock the vehicle, and heat or cool its interior prior to entry.

Toyota intends to sell the RAV4-EV to fleets only beginning in 1998. Honda will lease its vehicle to fleets and individuals beginning next spring.

Output to be limited

Toyota and Honda officials said they intend to produce no more than 320 vehicles each, with the intention of testing the waters for full vehicle production in 2003.

No retail price for either vehicle was disclosed, although analysis present at the unveilings expect them to cost more than the $35,000 General Motors Corp. will charge for its EV-1 coupe, which goes on sale later this year.

The EV-1 is powered by less expensive lead acid batteries and its 80-mile driving range is significantly shorter than for the Honda EV or the RAV4-EV.

"It's not a matter of setting a competitive price; we just want to evaluate customer acceptance." said Ben Knight, vice president of research and development for American Honda Motor Co.

One analyst, Jesse Snyder of Moorpark-based Snyder Research. said he was pleased with the estimated 100,000-mile life of the battery packs in both vehicles. He has been critical in the past of the high replacement costs for a battery pack, an expense he believes will scare off consumers from buying electric vehicles in mass numbers.

Still, Snyder believes electric vehicles will have to come down in price and have longer driving ranges before they receive wide-scale consumer acceptance.