Toyota RAV4 EV Mode (Explained)  

Toyota RAV4 EV Mode. You see the EV mode button on your vehicle and wonder what it is for. And how actually does it work?  

Don’t worry, we just received a lot of emails about the EV mode, so today we are going to explain it.  
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In this guide, we will explain the use of EV mode, how to use it, and when to use it. We are also going to tell you about the EV mode differences between the RAV4 Prime and the RAV4 Hybrid.  

What Is Toyota RAV4 Ev Mode?  

First of all, what does Ev stand for? Ev means electrical vehicle mode on your SUV; it means only electrical driving in your RAV4.  

While your car is in EV mode, there is no burning fuel; only the electrical motor and hybrid battery will run your vehicle.  

Since there is no electrical motor running the car, there will be less noise than usual.  

How EV Mode Works  

This is how it works when the driver enables the Ev mode electrical motors to take over the vehicle power and totally avoid the gas engine.  

Like other modes, Ev mode doesn’t need fuel to run the engine. Electrical motors use hybrid battery power to drive the wheels.  

Ev mode is available in both the RAV4 Prime and the RAV4 Hybrid but functions differently.  

RAV4 Prime  

The RAV4 Prime has a battery of 18.1 kwh that allows Ev mode to run 42 miles.  

There are some conditions that go even further than 42 miles, like when you are going down from the hills. Regenerative braking replenishes the battery by capturing and storing energy during braking.  

There are some conditions where your battery drains faster than usual, like when you are driving harshly and aggressively and going up hills.  

Note: Once the battery is totally drained, fuel automatically kicks in.  

Remember one thing: there are some situations that EV mode can totally cancel out. Let’s check out those situations.  

• If you drive more than 84 mph,  
• When you need more power,  
• If you press the accelerator pedal quickly,  
• If your hybrid system temperature rises higher than usual, like when you park your SUV under the sun for too long,  
• If your hybrid system requirements do not match  
• If you use the heater in a warm environment,  
• If your windshield defogger switch is on,  

RAV4 Hybrid  

Ev mode in Hybrid is totally different from RAV4 Prime. The RAV4 Hybrid battery is very small compared to the RAV4 Prime; its size is 1.6 kwh.  

Because of its size, you can only drive 1 km in EV mode with a maximum speed of 25 mph.  

Some drivers wonder why this mode on the RAV4 hybrid doesn’t last long. The only benefit is that it reduces some noise. The majority of people think the RAV4 hybrid gas engine is enough that they don’t need this mode.  

Like in RAV4 Prime, there is some situation where Ev mode on RAV4 Hybrid can totally cancel out.  

• When temperature is too high or too cold, in both situations, your EV mode can cancel out.  
• If your gas engine isn’t warm enough,  
• If you increase your speed from 25 mph  
• If you’re driving up hills  
• If you press the accelerator pedal aggressively,  
• If your windshield defogger switches on  
• When your hybrid battery is low,  

Expert Tip: When to Use It  

There are many conditions in which EV mode can be helpful, but it can be different between the RAV4 Prime and the RAV4 Hybrid.  

The EV mode on the RAV4 Prime can be very helpful to save some fuel because it will run totally on an electrical motor.  

If you are driving in town in EV mode, you may not fill up the tank for months.  

There are some mutual benefits of EV mode in both RAV4 Prime and RAV4 Hybrid; it reduces noise.  

Conclusion  

You can drive the RAV4 Prime in EV mode for 84 mph in pure electrical mode, while in the RAV4 Hybrid, you can only drive at 25 mph.  

Because the size of their battery, the RAV4 Prime battery is 18.1 kWh and the RAV4 Hybrid battery is 1.6 kWh.  

The EV mode in RAV Prime can be very helpful for saving some fuel, but not for the RAV Hybrid.  

There is one mutual benefit: it reduces noise.  

I hope this guide will help you. We love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and let us know.  

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