All electric sport utility vehicles are on the near horizon, but which company will debut its offering first remains a race among the Green Automotive and its imported Zotye, AMP/GM’s revised, all-electric Chevy Equinox and a Tesla powered Toyota RAV4 EV.
Green Automotive appears to be in the race lead. A fleet of nine Zotye electric SUVs has been shipped to the United States The SUV is powered by a lithium-ion battery which sends the power to an electric motor. It has a top speed of up to 70 mph and can provide an electric range of up to 150 miles.
According to Green Automotive’s recent announcement, Roush Industries has been retained to provide testing and engineering feedback on how well the new all-electric, Chinese-made EV meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Specific dealers are also being sought, according to media reports.
Although it’s not official, the Zotye price is estimated at $35,995, while the EV Equinox projected price is $50,000. Pricing information on the RAV4 EV remains unavailable.
Article Last Updated: March 17, 2011.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.