Hi,

I'm wondering about the actual max. range of the Rav4-EV located in the Green Street garage in Central Square. It's my favorite zipcar by far. I really would like to use it to visit my friends in Billerica. However, roundtrip to their place with about 10-20% safety factor will mean a distance approximately 55-60 miles. I sort of remember at the beginning the Rav4-EV was quoted to have a 75-mile range. Did my memory fail me? What is the furthest anyone ever driven the Rav4-EV?

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2003

Answers

We don't allow members to drive more than 50 miles during a reservation. I would stick to trips around town. It might make it to Billerica and back on a warm summer day if you drive conservatively, but you don't want to get stuck on of juice on route 2 in middle of January when you're using the seat warmers, heated windshield, heat pump, and lights.

-- Anonymous, December 29, 2003

We have had some problems with battery packs in the RAV4-EVs in extremely cold weather -- we think they are used to driving in Southern California, not the frigid Northeast. We did take them out of service for a while after learning of this problem, but they are back in service now and their range is fine.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2004

fair warning on the Rav4-EV. The range is significantly reduced when it's cold out.

My husband and I took a Rav4-EV from Central Square Cambridge and barely made it to Target in Watertown and back before it ran out of juice. Yessss, it was very cold out that evening, but this is well within the stated range of the Rav4-EV.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2004