RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid on trial

Toyota SA (TSAM) has imported the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV) as part of a pilot programme to test South African buyers’ appetite for and response to this technology.

Launched to worldwide acclaim in 2021, the RAV4 Plug-In offers the power and clean efficiency of an EV vehicle without the associated range anxiety or charging dependency. Here you get all the benefits of a traditional full-hybrid vehicle (self-charging, petrol engine back-up and extended range), with the additional performance and pure EV driving mode of a battery electric vehicle (BEV).

The powerplant(s)

Power on the RAV4 Plug-In is provided by a 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with a larger EV battery and two electric motors driving each of the axles. The PHEV system leverages Toyota’s 4th Generation Hybrid System and is equipped with a high output dual oil-cooling system that is used in combination with air and water cooling. It transmits the driving force directly to all four wheels and delivers a class-leading combination of power and efficiency.

The battery is of the lithium-ion variety which supplies 18.1kW of power and is located below the passenger compartment.
The petrol engine employs a DOHC design with dual VVT-i, punching out 136kW and 227Nm. This is paired with front and rear electric motors which contribute 134kW and 40kW, respectively. The torque is plentiful, with an additional 270 and 121Nm on tap. The resulting total system output is an impressive 225kW.

The drivetrain

The plug-in model uses the same architecture as the ‘conventional’ E-Four model, delivering AWD performance by providing electric drive to both front and rear axles. The petrol engine drives the front axle via a CVT transmission. The E-Four system intelligently switches between AWD and 2WD modes depending on usage conditions with a dedicated trail mode for increased rear axle torque split.

More modes

The RAV4 Plug-In offers the driver four modes to choose from.

EV mode is the default setting and prioritises electric-only operation.

HV mode allows the vehicle to operate like a traditional Toyota Hybrid, while the driver can specifically select HV mode as he or she requires, the system will also automatically switch to HV mode should the battery drop below EV mode operation levels. Using the HV mode the RAV4 PHEV extends the driving range by over 800km depending on driven conditions.

An auto EV/HV mode allows the system to switch between pure electric and hybrid modes, based on acceleration input required. The petrol motor is brought online when required and then returned to electric operation as soon as conditions permit.

Charging mode is provided to recharge the battery, in which case the system uses the petrol engine to recharge the battery pack. This is useful when a recharging facility is not immediately available. Once the hybrid battery is fully recharged, the system will switch to HV mode.

Recharging the RAV4

In order to recharge the vehicle, two solutions are provided, namely a Toyota mode 2 and mode 3 charging cable. Mode 2 allows for home or office charging via conventional AC 220-240V electric outlets. The average home charge will take between seven and nine hours. A built-in inverter monitors temperature and current. Mode 3 permits fast DC charging via dedicated charging stations, drastically reducing charging time to only 2.5 hours when using a 32A, 6.6kW charger.

Interior ambience

The plug-in model’s interior is based on the GX-R variant. A unique instrument cluster arrangement sees a dedicated battery state of charge dial in place of a traditional tachometer which informs the driver of battery level and EV mode capability.
A multitude of infographic displays can be called up on the large multi-information display (MID) including EV % use, hybrid system operation, cruising range and torque split.

Superior sounds

The quiet nature of the RAV4 Plug-in is used to maximum effect with the fitment of a premium, nine-speaker JBL sound system and nine-inch touchscreen. A multitude of menus including HEV system operation can be displayed on the infotainment screen, which also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

Source: MotorPress