Engadget Expand talk w/executive PM of Rav4 EV

[cwerdna]

From http://www.engadget.com/expand/agenda/ on March 17th, there's this:

09:00 - 09:30 AM: In Conversation with Sheldon Brown, Executive Program Manager – Product Development Office, Toyota Technical Center, USA, Inc.

Toyota has long been a leader when it comes to hybrid technology and, with the RAV4 EV, it's taken the next step by introducing a fully electric car -- and an SUV at that. In this session we speak with Executive Program Manager Sheldon Brown about how that car came to be, what challenges the company faced in developing it and what the future of driving looks like.

Speakers: Sheldon Brown, Executive Program Manager – Product Development Office, Toyota Technical Center, USA, Inc.; Tim Stevens, Editor-in-Chief, Engadget (moderator)

http://www.engadget.com/expand/speakers// says:

Sheldon Brown, Executive Program Manager – Product Development Office, Toyota Technical Center, USA, Inc.

In this position, Brown is the technical liaison for the interface between Toyota and Tesla Motors and is responsible for the overall project execution for the RAV4 EV including costs, timing and vehicle performance. Brown joined TTC in 1995 as a product development engineer for interior and upper body design. He became a senior engineer, interior trim for the 2000 Avalon and 2002 Camry, followed by a promotion to manager taking the lead on interior trim for the 2005 Avalon, the 2008 and 2011 Sienna and also was the interior liaison on the Lexus RX 330.

He continued his work with Sienna when he assumed the position of program manager for the 2011 Sienna and was the resident engineering leader at Toyota Motors Manufacturing, Indiana. He returned to TTC in 2010 to take on his current role. Brown is a board member of the Society Plastic Engineers and a Society of Automotive Engineers member. He is a founder of the Stella Foundation, a grassroots non-profit organization that supports local charities for children in southeast Michigan. He earned his bachelor of science engineering from the University of Michigan.

I'm not 100% sure if the 30 minute talk will be live streamed and/or recorded but http://www.engadget.com/expand/about/ leads me to believe the former will happen.

Watch Online

If you aren't able to be with us, you'll still be able to tune in to two full days of livestreamed coverage right here on Engadget. We'll have everything that's happening on stage available online, along with a ton of special footage from backstage interviews and sneak peaks from the exhibit hall floor.

We hope to see you in San Francisco!

 

[jspearman]

Does he mention in the interview if he drives one? I was impressed when Andy Palmer told us that his only car was a Leaf.

 

[waidy]

Does he mention in the interview if he drives one? I was impressed when Andy Palmer told us that his only car was a Leaf.

If he drives one, he should have already demanded to fix the time charge schedule function

 

[cwerdna]

Does he mention in the interview if he drives one? I was impressed when Andy Palmer told us that his only car was a Leaf.

I dunno. The interview hasn't happened yet.

There are some interesting videos on the Rav4 EV at http://www.youtube.com/user/toyotaesqcomm/videos?query=rav4, for those who don't know. Oddly, I must've done a different query before or something (e.g. YouTube search bug) because I never noticed the Future Mobility Seminar videos until now. I am curious to watch but may not be able to right now...

 

[Dsinned]

I wish there was some time for Q&A from Internet viewers. The #1 question would definitely have to be about the scheduled charging issue!

 

[cwerdna]

I wish there was some time for Q&A from Internet viewers. The #1 question would definitely have to be about the scheduled charging issue!

Maybe you can try tweeting to or direct messaging http://www.engadget.com/about/editors/tim-stevens/? Per http://www.engadget.com/expand/agenda/, he's the moderator of that talk.

Last night, I thought about attending today (Saturday) but decided against it. If it were free or cheaper or had way more exhibitors, I might've gone. If I lived closer to SF (I'm deep in the South Bay) and it were free/cheaper, I'd have dropped by due to all the giveaways. I've won numerous items in drawings before.

 

[shikataganai]

Video is up now: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/17/live-from-expand-toyotas-sheldon-brown/

Haven't heard him mention anything too startling yet.

No fast charging explanation around 9:00. No towing recommended @ 11:00. "System that heats and cools the battery" at 12:00 a very subtle dig at the LEAF.

I didn't catch any questions or answers regarding non-California availability, but I wasn't paying too much attention.

 

[Ampster]

That was a great interview. Sheldon Brown was one of the three Toyota technicians that came to my home after the focus group. I was impressed with his knowledge about the car and EV's in general.

 

[Dsinned]

Only a few minutes for Q&A, but unfortunately, no question asked about scheduled charging or what's up with relatively poor sales in CA so far.

 

[HD172]

I spoke to Sheldon Brown today and he said the software update for our charging should be out soon.

 

[Sport Mode]

HD172

Thanks for asking him. Do have any more specifics?

What does soon mean? Did you get the impression he knew a lot about the problem?

 

[HD172]

He definitely knew about the problem. Unfortunately he didn't give an exact date but I believe he was implying within the next few months.

 

[Dsinned]

Well, he's about the highest "engineering" person we could hope to be involved.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[cwerdna]

Glad to be of service here. I fortunately happened to do research on that Engadget event as I thought about going and luckily stumbled across the talk.

If the event were free or cheaper and had more exhibitors, I might've gone.

 

[Dsinned]

One of many interesting points he made was that the RAV4 EV's zero to 60 is a rather surprising 6.8 seconds. I'll bet that is one of the very best times out there today for any SUV at any price. I rank it is right up there with my former 2007 Chevy Trailblazer SS with nearly a 400HP Corvette V8 under the hood!

 

[cwerdna]

One of many interesting points he made was that the RAV4 EV's zero to 60 is a rather surprising 6.8 seconds. I'll bet that is one of the very best times out there today for any SUV at any price. I rank it is right up there with my former 2007 Chevy Trailblazer SS with nearly a 400HP Corvette V8 under the hood!

Probably not... the (insane, IMHO) BMW X5 M is quicker. See http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/x5-m/2013/#fullreview. Porsche Cayenne Turbo is too: http://www.edmunds.com/porsche/cayenne/2013/#fullreview.

At http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/testing-electric-vehicles-in-the-real-world.html, the Rav4 EV got 7.7 seconds, but it's the second fastest EV they tested. But this is all "bench racing" and there can be quite a bit of variation in 0-60 times (I've taken my former cars drag racing at a track before). I prefer the 1/4 mile as it's at least a longer distance and time, so variation affects the overall time less. And, if you give me a horsepower rating somewhere below 400 hp and a curb weight, I can give a guesstimate of its 1/4 mile time.