Tesla open to second collaboration with Toyota, Elon Musk says

By Stephen Edelstein September 9, 2014

Despite an underwhelming experience with the Toyota RAV4 EV project, Tesla Motors won’t rule out future collaborations with Japan’s largest carmaker.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk told Bloomberg that he “would not be surprised” if the two companies entered another partnership two or three years from now. While Tesla and Toyota have no set plans, Musk envisions a project larger than the RAV4 EV.

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That’s quite optimistic, considering the results of the first Tesla-Toyota team-up.

Toyota only managed to shift around 2,000 RAV EV electric crossovers in its two years on sale. That’s partly due to the limited scope of sales. The RAV4 EV was only sold in California, largely to comply with the state’s zero-emission vehicle mandate.

However, reports say there were also conflicts between Tesla and Toyota engineers, and the companies have grown apart since the RAV4 EV was launched in 2012.

Toyota has essentially abandoned battery-electric cars for hydrogen fuel cells, a technology Musk has continually mocked.

Related: Tesla picks Nevada for its battery-making “Gigafactory”

While other carmakers are increasing electrification, Toyota is also holding fast to non-plug-in hybrids. With “Father of the Prius” Takeshi Uchiyamada installed as chairman of the board, that strategy probably won’t change anytime soon.

Tesla, meanwhile, is in the midst of tripling its lineup with the Model X crossover and Model III sedan, as well as building a huge “Gigafactory” in Nevada to supply that smaller sedan with batteries.

Still, it wouldn’t be prudent to completely rule out another Tesla-Toyota collaboration, as both companies understand the value of a good partnership.

In addition to developing the RAV4 EV’s powertrain, Tesla did similar work for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive.

Toyota, meanwhile, worked with Subaru to get the Scion FR-S into showrooms, and it’s currently collaborating with BMW on a sports car project that could yield a new Supra, and a sportier replacement for today’s BMW Z4.

Topics

Tesla
Toyota

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Nissan joins ChargeScape, a way for EV owners to sell watts back to the grid

electrify america home charging station for electric cars

EV owners already enjoy the benefits of knowing their vehicle is charging up quietly while they sleep. Now they can dream about how much money they can make in the process.That’s the bet Nissan is making by joining ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) venture that is already backed by BMW, Ford, and Honda.ChargeScape’s software wirelessly connects electric vehicles to power grids and utility companies. When connected with ChargeScape's platform, EV drivers can receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand. ChargeScape says they will eventually also be able to sell the energy stored in their vehicle's battery back to the power grid.
A 2021 study by the University of Rochester found that EV owners could save up to $150 a year by using V2G technology. But the technology has evolved in recent years. V2G company Fermata Energy says that in some circumstances, a customer using its bi-directional charger was able to save $187.50 in 15 minutes by drawing energy from a Nissan LEAF to avoid costly demand charges.
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The Tesla Supercharger network is expanding again

Teslas parked using the Tesla Superchargers.

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You can now charge your General Motors EV at a Tesla Supercharger

GM opens up access to more than 17,800 Tesla Superchargers

Taking a road trip in a General Motors-built electric car just got a lot more convenient. EVs made by Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac are now compatible with Tesla's Supercharger charging stations, though drivers will need to purchase an adapter before they can start plugging in.

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