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Toyota and Southern California Edison Plug Electric Vehicles Into Everyday Use

13 November 1997

Toyota and Southern California Edison Plug Electric Vehicles Into Everyday Use

    TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 13 -- Toyota Motor Sales, USA (TMS),
Inc., today passed the keys to the first production Toyota RAV4-EV electric
vehicle to executives from Southern California Edison (SCE).  The event marks
the beginning of a strong business relationship between TMS and SCE to bring
efficient zero-emission vehicles to Los Angeles.
    "This occasion represents a turning point for the future of clean air in
California," said Yoshi Ishizaka, TMS president and CEO.  "With California's
air the cleanest it has been in 50 years, it would be easy to rest on our
laurels and say the work is done.  However, working together Toyota and Edison
intend to continue to make the future even cleaner than the past."
    While the event marked SCE's first Toyota RAV4-EV delivery, it will not be
the last.  SCE has signed an agreement with Toyota to purchase 80 RAV4-EVs by
December 1998.  This represents half of the total number of zero-emission
vehicles that SCE will purchase in the next year.
    "Southern California Edison has a history of environmental leadership,
taking delivery of our first electric vehicle in 1987," said Stephen Frank,
SCE president and CEO.  "With ten years and over 755,000 miles of EV
experience behind us, we are proud to be able to prove the cost efficiency and
drivability of electric vehicles."
    The Toyota RAV4-EV is Toyota's first production electric vehicle.  Powered
by advanced nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, the RAV4-EV can travel up
to 120 miles on a single charge at speeds up to 79 mph.  With four doors and
seating for five, the vehicle offers true utility for a variety of fleet
applications.  The RAV4-EV is available to fleet buyers in selected states
nationwide for a purchase price of $42,000 or lease of $457 per month, before
factoring in federal, state and local incentives.
    SCE is the nation's second largest investor-owned electric utility,
serving 11 million people within a 50,000-square-mile area within central,
coastal and Southern California.  Based in Rosemead, CA, the regulated utility
is a recognized world leader in cutting-edge technology development and
applications, and for providing reliable electrical service in the region for
more than a century.
    TMS is the U.S. sales and marketing arm of Toyota Motor Corporation with
responsibility for import, distribution and sale of Toyota and Lexus vehicles
in the United States.  With nearly 1.2 million vehicles sold in 1996 and over
60 percent of those built in North America, Toyota is the fourth largest car
company in the U.S.

SOURCE  Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.