Why Toyota can't sell RAV4-EV: tape 2 Chevron bought technology

At the Huntington Beach, CA Energy Fair, at which solar energy and plug-in cars were center stage, HB Toyota finally admitted, perhaps in frustration, that Chevron is a factor in why they can't sell the RAV4-EV.

The RAV4-EV uses Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries specially developed for "large-format" applications by Panasonic-Toyota EV Energy Company. Originally, Toyota licensed the NiMH patents from the inventor, Stan Ovshinsky of Energy Conversion Devices' subsidiary Ovonics.

In 1994, GM bought control of the Worldwide Patent Rights to NiMH, vesting them in a Joint-venture called "GM-Ovonics".

On Oct. 10, 2000, GM sold control of NiMH to Texaco, which six days later announced it was becoming a part of Chevron (Standard Oil of California). Thus, GM, sensitive to PR, could say that it wasn't GM and Standard Oil that had worked together, exactly.

GM-Ovonics was renamed COBASYS (Chevron-Ovonics Battery Systems) and the very next year, Chevron funded a lawsuit against Toyota, alleging patent infringement in that Toyota had improved NiMH batteries so that they lasted longer than the life of the car, even a Toyota car.

Toyota then ceased production of the EV-95 NiMH battery and the Toyota RAV4-EV which used it; no plug-in NiMH car was ever again offered for sale to the public by Toyota.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• RAV4-EV
• RAV-EV
• EV1
• GM
• killed
• the
• electric
• car
• NiMH
• Chevron

[kostea13]

very good liveoilfree BRAVO

[kostea13]

the future is electric

[DtorBillAgain]

@theden0minat0r Nice deal with Toyota; they avoid the dirty CHEVRON through colaboration with different companies; lovely. Nice job Toyota :)

[theden0minat0r]

DOUG! You did it!! TOYOTA Is Bringing back the RAV4EV! This is amazing news!!

They are now working with Tesla to have it ready for market in 2012.. I can't wait to follow it's development.. It's the smartest thing Toyota ever decided. Get an EV out to the market as fast as possible.

[PrinceznaZmrzlina]

I think this calls for a political kick in the ass message: expropriation for the common good.

[PrinceznaZmrzlina]

it's really telling, NIMH batteries held hostage by Chevron-Texaco :/

[cybersoftjc]

What did Toyota Corporate say? I heard the guy suggest it to you, i pray that you took it up with them!

[Sc0rPsX]

I'd get one in a heart beat!

[lpgas1]

awesome work doug! tell it like it is, i couldn't believe it when that guy said something better is coming! what? .....a hybrid. please toyota get your head out of the sand!

[aicram62]

Please write a petition and put it on CARE 2. Submit the petition to the senators, house, and car manufacturers